Montivipera xanthina (GRAY, 1849)
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Montivipera xanthina
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| Higher Taxa | Viperidae, Viperinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | Montivipera xanthina xanthina (GRAY 1849) Montivipera xanthina nilsoni CATTANEO 2014 Montivipera xanthina dianae CATTANEO 2014 Montivipera xanthina occidentalis CATTANEO 2017 Montivipera xanthina varoli AFSAR, YAKIN, ÇİÇEK & AYAZ 2019 |
| Common Names | E: Coastal Viper, Ottoman Viper G: (Kleinasiatische oder Türkische) Bergotter |
| Synonym | Daboia xanthina GRAY 1849: 24 Vipera xanthina — STRAUCH 1868: 291 Daboia xanthina — ENGELMANN et al. 1993 Vipera xanthina — WELCH 1994: 123 Vipera (Montivipera) xanthina — NILSON et al. 1999: 101 Vipera xanthina — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 412 Montivipera xanthina — NILSON et al. 1999 Montivipera xanthina — GARRIGUES et al. 2005 Montivipera xanthina — STÜMPEL & TRAPP 2006 Vipera (Montivipera) xanthina — VENCHI & SINDACO 2006 Montivipera xanthina — TRAPP 2007 Daboia xanthina — GAULKE 2008 Montivipera xanthina — ARIKAN et al. 2008 Montivipera xanthina — WALLACH et al. 2014: 459 Montivipera xanthina nilsoni CATTANEO 2014 Montivipera xanthina nilsoni — AFSAR, YAKIN, ÇİÇEK & AYAZ 2019 Montivipera xanthina dianae CATTANEO 2014 Montivipera xanthina dianae — AFSAR, YAKIN, ÇİÇEK & AYAZ 2019 Montivipera xanthina occidentalis CATTANEO 2017 Montivipera xanthina occidentalis — AFSAR, YAKIN, ÇİÇEK & AYAZ 2019 Montivipera xanthina varoli AFSAR, YAKIN, ÇİÇEK & AYAZ 2019 |
| Distribution | W Turkey, Greece (NE Makri, Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Patmos, Lipsi, Leros, Kalymnos, Symi, Chalki), Syria Elevation up to 3000 m. dianae: Greece (Island of Leros) nilsoni: Greece (Island of Leros) occidentalis: Greece (Rhodopes); Type locality: “Tracia greca centrale, Regione dei Rodopi, località Proskinites, 121 m s.l.m.” varoli: S Turkey (Antalya); Type locality: Mühür Dağ on western of Geyik Mountains, Gündoğmuş, Antalya, Turkey 1601 m. a.s.l. Type locality: Xanthus, SW Turkey |
| Reproduction | (ovo-) viparous. Experimental hybridizations between M. wagneri and M. xanthina result in fertile offspring (Stümpel et al. 2016). |
| Types | Lectotype: BMNH 1946.1.18.11 (formerly BMNH ii.1.3a, Xanthos), designated by Nilson and Andren, 1986: 63. Paralectotype: BMNH 1946.1.20.93 (Asia Minor). Holotype: MCZR (originally as MCZRVR/02359, Museo Civico di Zoologia, Roma), adult male, ; isola greca di Leros, località Ag. Petros, c. 110 m s.l.m. (Dodecaneso); A. Cattaneo leg., 22/05/2007 (trovato morto) [dianae] Holotype: MCZR (originally as MCZRVR 02358, Museo Civico di Zoologia, Roma), adult male; isola greca di Chios, località Dafnonas, c. 220 m s.l.m. (Mar Egeo orientale), A. Vesci leg., 11/05/2001 (trovato morto) [nilsoni] Holotype: ZFMK 101040 (paper says that types will be transferred to ZFMK; paper cites private collection: MX/TR20/5 C.C. = Collezione Erpetologica Augusto Cattaneo, Roma); adult male, A. Cattaneo legit (trovato morto), 06/05/2015. Farà parte della Collezione Erpetologica del Museo Alexander Koenig (Bonn) [occidentalis] |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (nilsoni): M. x. nilsoni is distinct from the typical form as it is far larger in size that the standard type (males up to 140 cm in total length and weighing almost 1300 g, respectively, up to 95 cm and 380 g on the continent); for the tendency to have three rows of unilateral or bilateral circumocular scales (instead of two); for the larger number of rows of anterior dorsal scales (average about 24 instead of 23); for the more extensive development of the dorsal pattern and absence or poor definition of the ventral semilunar spots in the adult. Diagnosis (dianae): M. x. dianae differs from the typical form as it has a larger number of rows of dorsal (with consequent increase in size) and anterior (25) scales, and also at mid-trunk (24 or 25, almost never 23) and to the rear (often 18 and 19) (in the typical form habitual respective values are 23, 23 and 17), as well as having a dark subocular spot, with the two black specks on the pileus mostly absent or poorly represented. It also presents unusual, paroxysmal or extreme defensive reactions, never found in specimens of M. xanthina elsewhere. Diagnosis (occidentalis): M. x. occidentalis differs from other known subspecies for the tendency to a reduced size and correspondingly for a lower number of intercanthals and of dorsal scales rows, both in the midbody (mostly 21-22) and in the posterior part of the body (often 15-16). Diagnosis (varoli): This subspecies has similar characteristics with those of the southern populations according to Nilson & Andren (1986). The whiteness between spots and zig-zag windings in the dorsum is more prominent in the new subspecies than in the southern population, and females have darker greyish-brown skin color than males. Whiteness between blackish spots can be also more prominent in male specimens compared to only adult female specimen. In three male specimens, there was almost no spotting and colorization under the head. The spots on ventrals became denser in the mid-body and forms darker colorization at the end of body. Also, just as stated in Nilson & Andren (1986), in three of the four evaluated specimens, they have neck spots united with the dorsal band. The tail tips of all four specimens are yellowish-orange or light orange while tail tip is yellow for other M. xanthina populations according to Nilson & Andren (1986). In addition to color-pattern properties, new subspecies are differ from M. x. nilsoni by having two series of circumocular scales which is similar to nominate subspecies; M. x. dianae by having lower number of rows of dorsal scales (anterior 23-24; mid-body 23; posterior 17-18); M. x. occidentalis a higher number of intercanthals and dorsal scales rows. Also new subspecies can be distinguished from other M. xanthina populations in Turkey by both having more intercanthals (12, 13) and less subcaudalia (≤30). |
| Comment | Venomous! Subspecies: Vipera bornmuelleri has been considered as a subspecies of V. xanthina but is now considered as a valid species. M. xanthina appears to constitute a cryptic species complex with three or four new taxa (Stümpel et al. 2016). Synonymy: The new subspecies (nilsoni, dianae, and occidentalis) may be synonyms of M. xanthina (Wolfgang Wüster, pers. comm., 21 Oct 2017). In fact, the descriptions do not include any phylogenetic or molecular data and there is broad overlap of meristic characters across the subspecies (Table 4 in Cattaneo 2017). Type species: Daboia xanthina GRAY 1849: 24 is the type species of the genus Montivipera NILSON et al. 1999. Phylogenetics: for a recent phylogeny of this and related Viperinae see Šmíd & Tolley 2019. Distribution: for a map with localities in Turkey see Mebert et al. 2020: 172 (Fig. 2) and 180 (Fig. 11). For a map see Sindaco et al. 2013. |
| Etymology | Montivipera xanthina nilsoni has been named after Prof. Dr. Göran Nilson (Göteborg). M. x. dianae has been named after the Greek goddess Diana; a sanctuary dedicated to her was found near its type locality on the island of Leros. M. x. occidentalis was named after its type locality, which is in the westernmost territory inhabited by this subspecies. M. x. varoli was named in honor of Prof. Dr. Cemal Varol TOK who made valuable contributions to Turkish Herpetofauna and also the word “var’ol” is a verb that means “to exist, to stay alive, to be in existence”. |
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