Open AccessA new subspecies of Ottoman viper, Montivipera xanthina (Gray, 1849), (Squamata: Viperidae) from Geyik Mountains, Mediterranean Turkey
Author(s) -
Murat Afsar,
Batuhan Yaman Yakın,
Kerim Çiçek,
Dinçer Ayaz
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
ecologica montenegrina
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.534
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 2337-0173
pISSN - 2336-9744
DOI - 10.37828/em.2019.22.17
Subject(s) - subspecies , viper , viperidae , mediterranean climate , orange (colour) , biology , squamata , dorsum , zoology , anatomy , ecology , venom , horticulture
A new Ottoman viper subspecies, M. xanthina varoli n. subsp., is described from the higher altitudes of Gündoğmuş (Antalya). The new subspecies differs from the other M. xanthina populations by pholidosis; higher number of intercanthals and lower number of subcaudalia. Also, the whiteness between windings or spots on dorsum pattern were observed in new subspecies, similar to the southern populations. Furthermore, the spots on the ventrals became denser in the mid-body and forms darker colorization at the end of body of the males and the tail tips are yellowish-orange or light orange on both sexes.