Vipera aspis atra
| Vipera aspis atra | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Vipera |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | V. a. atra
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Vipera aspirateur atra Meisner, 1820
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
- Common names: black asp, black viper.[2]
Vipera aspis atra is a venomous viper subspecies[3] endemic to France, Switzerland and Italy.[4]
Geographic range
[edit]It is found in western Switzerland, northwestern Italy, Spain, and southeastern France.[4] Mallow et al. (2003) describe the range only as "portions of Switzerland".[5]
Conservation status
[edit]This subspecies is classified as Vulnerable (VU) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).[6][7]
Taxonomy
[edit]A recent study by Ursenbacher et al. (2006) suggests that V. a. atra may not be a valid subspecies.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
- ^ "Vipera aspis atra". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 15 August 2006.
- ^ a b Vipera aspis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
- ^ Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
- ^ a b Vipera aspis at IUCN Red List. Accessed 6 October 2006.
- ^ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1)IUCN Red List. Accessed 6 October 2006.
Further reading
[edit]- Meisner F. 1820. "12. Ueber die in der Schweiz einheimischen Schlangen überhaupt und die Vipern insbesonere." pp. 89–95. In: Museum der Naturgeschichte Helvetiens. Band I. Bern: Burgdorfer. 98 pp. (Vipera atra, pp. 93–94.)
- Ursenbacher S, Conelli A, Golay P, Monney JC, Zuffi MAL, Thiery G, Durand T, Fumagalli L. 2006. Phylogeography of the asp viper (Vipera aspis) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data: Evidence for multiple Mediterranean refugial areas. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 38 (2): 546-552.