Ovophis monticola

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Ovophis monticola, commonly known as the Chinese mountain pit viper, is a pit viper species found in Asia. Currently, two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.[1] Recent taxonomic work suggests that most of these should be considered as separate species.[2] IUCN has already evaluated O. m. makazayazaya as Ovophis makazayazaya.[3]

Description

Total length of males 49 cm (<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />19+14 inches), of females 110 cm (<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />43+14 inches); tail length of males 8 cm (<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3+18 inches), of females 15 cm (<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />5+78 inches).[4]

The head has a short snout, a little more than twice the length of the diameter of the eye. The crown is covered by small scales rather than large shields, while the scales are usually smooth, feebly imbricate. The first upper labial is not fused to the nasal and is completely separated by a suture. The supraoculars are large, 5-9 scales in a line between them. The internasals are usually not in contact with one another, separated by 2 small suprapostrostral scales. There are 7-10 upper labials, the second of which is usually fused to the scale bordering the facial sensory pit anteriorly. The fourth and fifth upper labials are beneath the eye, but separated from orbit by a series of 2-4 small scales.[4]

The body is stout. The dorsal scales are smooth or weakly keeled, in 23-25, occasionally in 19 or 21 longitudinal rows at midbody. Ventral scales and subcaudals (Myanmar, northeastern India and adjacent areas of China and Thailand) 137-176 and 36-62 respectively, subcaudals mixed paired and single, occasionally all unpaired (ventrals and subcaudals for southern China, Vietnam, Laos: 127-144 and 36-54, and Malaysian Peninsula: 133-137 and 22-28 respectively [fide Smith 1943:509]).[4]

Common names

Mountain pitviper,[5] mountain viper, Chinese pit viper, spotted pit viper, Arisan habu,[6] Chinese mountain pit viper.[7] Bengali name: পাহাড়ী বোড়া.

Geographic range

Found in Asia in Nepal, India (Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland), Bangladesh[8] (already stated on the subspecies table), Myanmar, China (Zhejiang, Fujian, Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet), Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, West Malaysia and Indonesia (Sumatra). The type locality is described as "Sikkim" (India).[9]

Subspecies

Subspecies[1] Taxon author[1] Common name[5] Geographic range[5]
O. m. monticola (Günther, 1864) Mountain pitviper Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts), China (Sichuan, Tibet Autonomous Region, Yunnan, India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and West Bengal), Myanmar (Chin, Kachin and Shan) and Nepal.
O. m. makazayazaya (Takahashi, 1922) Taiwanese mountain pitviper Taiwan (Majia, Pingtung, Chiayi Alishan), China (Southeast), Vietnam
O. m. zhaokentangi Zhao, 1995 Gaoligong mountain pitviper Goaligong Shan, north of Pianma, Lushui County, Yunnan Province, China.

Venom

Little is known about the venom of this species but it is presumed to contain hemorrhagins and procoagulants. There has been one recorded fatality from the bite of this species.[10]

References

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  4. a b c Leviton AE, Wogan GOU, Koo MS, Zug GR, Lucas RS, Vindum JV. 2003. The Dangerously Venomous Snakes of Myanmar, Illustrated Checklist with Keys. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. 54 (24):407-462. PDF Template:Webarchive at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles. Accessed 8 August 2006.
  5. a b c Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S. 2004. Asian Pitvipers. GeitjeBooks Berlin. 1st Edition. 368 pp. Template:ISBN.
  6. U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. Template:ISBN.
  7. Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. Template:ISBN.
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  10. Venomous Snakes of the World by Mark O'Shea, Page number 104

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Further reading

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  • Günther, A. 1864. The Reptiles of British India. The Ray Society. London. (Taylor & Francis, Printers.) xxvii + 452 pp. (Trimeresurus monticola, p. 388 + Plate XXIV., fig. B.)
  • Tillack, F.; Shah, K.B.; Gumprecht, A. & Husain, A. 2003 Anmerkungen zur Verbreitung, Morphologie, Biologie, Haltung und Nachzucht der Berg-Grubenotter Ovophis monticola monticola (Günther, 1864) (Serpentes, Viperidae, Crotalinae). Sauria 25 (4): 29-46

External links

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