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A new subspecies of the subalpine meadow viper, Vipera ursinii (Bonaparte) (Reptilia, Viperidae), from Greece
Author(s) -
NILSON GORAN,
ANDREN CLAES
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
zoologica scripta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1463-6409
pISSN - 0300-3256
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6409.1988.tb00106.x
Subject(s) - viperidae , viper , subspecies , montane ecology , biology , dorsum , anatomy , zoology , venom , ecology
An isolated group of populations of the subalpine meadow viper, Vipera ursinii , from the southern Pindos mountains in Greece is described as a new subspecies. They differ from all other ursinii populations in a number of morphological characters, such as: shorter tail with a low number of subcaudals (lowest for the species); nasal normally divided into two plates or united with nasorostralia; low number of supralabials (6); first three supralabials very large while following ones are much reduced (less than half the height of anterior ones); third supralabial below orbit; lateral blotches and spots on body absent or weakly visible (mainly in some males and juveniles); no dark spots on cheek, labials and lateral and dorsal sides of head (except occipital and postorbital stripes); dorsal zig‐zag band markedly jagged or only consisting of a narrow vertebral line.