| Macrovipera lebetinus transmediterranea | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Macrovipera |
| Species: | M. lebetinus |
| Subspecies: | M. l. transmediterranea |
| Trinomial name | |
| Macrovipera lebetinus transmediterranea (Nilson & Andrén, 1988) | |
| Synonyms | |
- Common names: (none).
Macrovipera lebetinus transmediterranea is a viper subspecies endemic to North Africa. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.
Description
This subspecies is not known to exceed 1 m (3.3 ft) in total length (body + tail). It is further distinguished by having only 25 midbody dorsal scale rows, a lower ventral scale count of 150-164 scales, and more fragmented head scales. The color pattern is light gray with 34-41 dark transverse bars which are each 2-3 scales wide.
Geographic range
It is found only in North Africa, where it is restricted to the coastal mountains of Algeria and Tunis. One of the few specific localities where it is known to occur is Djebel Murdjaro near Oran in western Algeria. This subspecies may be sympatric with M. deserti and/or D. mauritanica.
References
- McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- "Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 10 August 2006.
- ^ Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Books. Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
- ^ Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
Further reading
- Nilson G, Andrén C. 1988. Vipera lebetina transmediterranea, a new subspecies of viper from North Africa, with remarks on the taxonomy of Vipera lebetina and Vipera mauritanica (Reptilia: Viperidae). Bonn zool. Beitr. 39 (4): 371-379.
External links
- Macrovipera lebetinus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 9 August 2007.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea | |