The Mount Bulgar viper (Montivipera bulgardaghica), also called the Bulgardagh viper[4] is a viper species endemic to the mountains of southern Turkey.[4] Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.[5]
| Mount Bulgar viper | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Montivipera |
| Species: | M. bulgardaghica
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| Binomial name | |
| Montivipera bulgardaghica Nilson & Andrén, 1985
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Synonyms[2]
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Description edit
It grows to a maximum total length (body + tail) of about 78 cm (31 in).[4]
Geographic range edit
It is found in the Bulgar Dagh (Bolkar Dagi) mountains, Nigde Province, south central Anatolia, Turkey. It is a rarely seen animal.
The type locality given is "Cilician Taurus (Kar Boghaz, Bulgar Dagh, 2500 m) province Nigde" (= Karbogaz, Bolkar dagi Ulukişla, 8,200 ft), south central Anatolia, Turkey.[2]
Conservation status edit
This species is classified as Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1]
It is also listed as a protected species (Appendix III) under the Berne Convention.[6]
Taxonomy edit
This species was considered by Golay et al. (1993) to be a subspecies of M. xanthina,[2] and was subsequently moved to the genus Montivipera by Nilson et al. (1999), who considered it to be a synonym of Montivipera xanthina.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b Montivipera bulgardaghica at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
- ^ a b c 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).
- ^ a b The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ a b c Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
- ^ "Montivipera bulgardaghica". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 17 August 2006.
- ^ Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Appendix III at Council of Europe. Accessed 9 October 2006.
Further reading edit
- Golay P, Smith HM, Broadley DG, Dixon JR, McCarthy CJ, Rage J-C, Schätti B, Toriba M. 1993. Endoglyphs and Other Major Venomous Snakes of the World: A Checklist. Geneva: Azemiops. 478 pp.
- Nilson G, Andrén C. 1985. Systematics of the Vipera xanthina complex (Reptilia: Viperidae). 3. Taxonomic status of the Bulgar Dagh viper in south Turkey. Journal of Herpetology 19 (2): 276-283. (Vipera bulgardaghica, new species)
External links edit
- Montivipera xanthina at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 21 October 2013.