FREE VIPERS, A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE AZEMIOPINAE AND VIPERINAE PDF

Tony Phelps | 557 pages | 01 Jan 2010 | Edition Chimaira | 9783899734706 | English | none Viperinae - Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core

British Wildlife is the leading natural history magazine in the UK, providing essential reading for both enthusiast and professional naturalists and wildlife conservationists. Published eight times a year, British Wildlife bridges the gap between popular writing and scientific literature through a combination of long-form articles, regular columns and reports, book Old World Vipers and letters. Professioneller Kundenservice Hilfe und Expertise. Comprehensive and well-illustrated reference, A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae chapters on: Origins, Biogeography and Classification The Vipers' Environment Habits and Behaviour Working with Vipers Species Accounts The book reflects the author's decades of experience of vipers in much of the Old World, as well as in captivity. The species accounts illustrate the diversity of Old World Vipers, while providing important information on distribution, taxonomy, behaviour and ecology. David Warrell's chapter on viperid envenoming is a reminder of how -human encounters can often end in tragedy. Deutsch English. Prothero Michael J. Benton Richard Fortey View All. British Wildlife. Weiter zu British Wildlife. Conservation Land Management. Weiter zu Conservation Land Management. Publisher: Edition Chimaira. Click to have a closer look. About this book Customer reviews Related titles. Images Additional images. About this book Comprehensive and well-illustrated reference, with chapters on: Origins, Biogeography and Classification The Vipers' Environment Habits and Behaviour Working with Vipers Species Accounts The book reflects the author's decades of experience of vipers in much of the Old World, as well as in captivity. Customer Reviews Review this book. By: Tony Phelps. Current promotions. Old World Vipers in . Lizards of the World. More Info. of Central and Western . The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Girdled Lizards and their Relatives. A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. A Guide to the Reptiles of . Other titles from Chimaira. Amphibians and Reptiles of . Chameleons of Africa. Monitor Lizards. A Quest for African Herpetology. European Pond Turtle. Browse titles from Chimaira. Register No. Willkommen bei. Bestellen Sie jetzt in Euro auf nhbs. Continue to browse in english. Old World Vipers, A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae : Tony Phelps :

Vipers are considered to be one of the most advanced groups of snakes, meaning that they display a large degree of divergence from the ancestral snakes. Depending upon the source, and allowing for taxonomic fluctuations, there are roughly 14 genera and approximately 85 viper species currently recognized. At 2 inches in length, the fangs of the gabonica are the longest of any A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae snake. The first authentic viper fossils known are from the early Miocene of and , although it is believed that vipers probably first appeared in Africa. Vipers tend to be relatively short, stout snakes, with very few species reaching A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae maximum length of 6 feet. Although there are a few very short forms, as well, most of the true vipers have adult lengths of 2 to 4 feet. For the most part, they are ground- dwelling species, although a few, such as members of the , have invaded trees and bushes to develop an arboreal lifestyle. Vipers are found in a wide range of habitats, from arid deserts to steaming jungles, and even above the Arctic Circle. The majority of species are primarily nocturnal, although many are also active during daylight. Most of the vipers are ovoviviparous, bearing their young alive, but there are a few species that are oviparous egg laying. Most viper species are relatively sedentary in their habits. They are adept ambush predators, meaning they hold still and wait for their prey to come to them. They can strike with lightning speed, embedding their long fangs deeply into their prey to inject venom. The prey is usually then released, and the viper will follow its scent until the venom has had time to work. Their efficient mechanism of killing allows vipers to tackle large prey with a good degree of safety. Taking large meals reduces the needed frequency of feeding because the snake can take in much more energy with each kill. In addition, the venom apparatus provides an effective means of defense for these slow-moving serpents. Vipers are a diverse and fascinating group of snakes. Many of them are strikingly beautiful in appearance, with colors and patterns that could almost seem to be designed purely for decorative effect. They have figured into the development and history of mankind from the beginning and have left lingering impressions on our art and culture, and even perhaps in our biology. One school of thought believes that a formative force in the development of primate vision was the need to pick out the shape of a camouflaged serpent on a forest floor or twined within vegetation. The need for this ability persists today in many parts of the world, where the peril of the strike of an unseen snake is an ever-present danger. The combination of an abundance of venomous snakes and minimal available medical care renders snakebite a significant public health A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae in many areas. Often referred to as carpet vipers, the saw-scaled vipers have the dubious distinction of possibly causing more human fatalities due to snakebite than any other viper species. Notwithstanding their small size — adults rarely attain more than 2 feet in length — saw-scaled vipers are extremely dangerous snakes with an immense range across Asia, Africa and the . They tend to be quite defensive and are amazingly abundant in some areas. This is an Egyptian saw-scaled viper pyramidum. Long considered to consist of only two species — and E. Some are egg layers, while others give birth to live young. Watching one A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae these snakes in a defensive coil is a fascinating experience. Should their display not succeed in warning away an aggressor, saw-scales will strike quickly and savagely. Their venom is extremely toxic and frequently causes the most alarming symptoms, such as uncontrolled bleeding throughout the body. Saw-scaled vipers are somewhat drably colored in various shades of brown or tan, which provides excellent camouflage in their normally arid habitats. They frequently bury themselves in the sand, leaving just their eyes exposed above the surface. They are also often found under rocks or surface debris. In soft-sand areas, they often utilize the same side-winding form of locomotion favored by the sidewinder rattlesnake of the American southwest. Saw-scaled vipers consume a variety of prey, including birds, small rodents and lizards, along with invertebrates such as centipedes and insects. Reaching a maximum size of about 5 feet, A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae is one of the larger viper species. The ventral surface is white or yellowish, sometimes displaying a pink wash, and often A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae with black spots or half-moons. The overall A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae is an attractive mixture of browns and reds with black and white lines and stripes around the dorsal spots. The face is marked with dark lines behind A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae eyes. These vipers utilize a wide variety of habitat, though are most often found in open lowland areas. Thick jungle or forest is usually avoided, and they are often found in close proximity to humans in agricultural zones and A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae in urban areas. Here, their preferred prey of rodents is found Old World Vipers large numbers. The largest reported litter I am aware of was 65, but 30 or so is not uncommon. Babies are miniature versions of the adults and feed readily on small mice. Once common in U. These are the giants of the viper clan, sometimes attaining lengths of 6 feet and weights in excess of 17 pounds. Additionally, Gaboon vipers have the distinction of possessing the longest fangs of any , with those of a large adult approaching about 2 inches in length. They also are capable of producing the greatest quantity of venom of any snake, with a reported yield on extraction of 9. In addition to possessing the longest fangs, the Gaboon viper this is a juvenile is also capable of producing the greatest quantity of venom of any other snake. For years, all Gaboon vipers were considered to belong to the single species Bitis gabonicawith two subspecies, the East African Gaboon B. These are now considered to be distinct species: B. Together, they range A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae large parts of sub- Saharan Africa, from the northwestern portion to east Africa and down into South Africa. Gaboon vipers can be distinguished easily by the presence of distinct horn-like structures on the nose of the West African species; East African Gaboons lack these nasal horns. The color and pattern of the Gaboon vipers might best be described as vivid or even bizarre. The ground color is usually a buff or beige overlaid with a variety of differently shaped and colored markings. Looking at Old World Vipers of these vividly marked snakes, it is difficult to imagine how effective the coloration is as camouflage when the animal is motionless on the forest floor, but effective it was. When I worked at Atlanta Zoo, I cared for a large West African Gaboon that was on display in an exhibit furnished very simply with a dead stump and floored with dead leaves. Gaboons really do blend in that well; in the wild, they must be nearly invisible. Top 10 Venomous North American Snakes. Gaboon vipers are the consummate Old World Vipers predators. Lying motionless along a game path, they wait until a suitable prey animal comes within reach and then launch a well-placed strike. Unlike many vipers, they normally keep a grip on the prey until the venom takes effect, and will frequently lift the forepart of their bodies into the air while holding the animal clear of the ground until its struggles cease. Large Gaboon vipers have been known to feed on as large as small antelope, such as dik-dik, as well as young monkeys. Fortunately for the human inhabitants of Gaboon viper country, these snakes are normally extremely reluctant to bite. There are reports of people treading directly on a camouflaged viper without provoking a strike. Still, the results of a Gaboon bite, though rare, can be horrific. The combination of the long fangs, copious venom yield and a virulent tissue-destroying venom make for an extremely serious combination. Louis Zoo in Their seeming placidity leads many to take foolish chances with captive Gaboons, and when they do decide to strike, it is amazingly fast and although they are normally easy-going, an aroused A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae is a force to be Old World Vipers with. Anyone maintaining these animals in captivity should never, under any circumstances, take their good nature for granted. As their collective name suggests, the bush vipers of the genus Atheris are the only vipers that routinely dwell aboveground. The genus consists of a dozen or so species that are largely confined to central Africa, where they inhabit a steadily shrinking and fragmented rain forest habitat. Bush vipers are usually somewhat small, averaging a total adult length of about 2 feet. This is Atheris subocularis. Bush vipers are normally mostly green in coloration, although there is quite a bit of variation between, and even within, the species. The scalation of many is extremely rough, especially around the head, giving bush vipers an unusual appearance. They are rarely encountered in the wild and even less frequently known to bite humans, although some of Old World Vipers species are quite spirited in defending themselves if necessary. By far the most common bush viper found in collections is the green bush viper A. Other species are rarely seen in A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae. As might be inferred from its common name, the coloration of this species is usually some shade of green dorsally, although occasional specimens can be yellow, red, dark gray or black. Some display lighter cross-bands. A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae belly is a paler olive green or yellowish, and often mottled with black. The tail tip is usually colored white. The green bush viper is found over large parts of central and western Africa. It inhabits densely forested or rain forest areas, where it hunts at night for small mammals. It is reported to descend close to the ground in order to ambush scurrying mammals from above; frogs and lizards are also consumed, along with occasional birds and other snakes. During the day, the green bush viper may be found higher in the trees, frequently basking in the sun above the foliage. Young green bush vipers are born alive in litters that usually number five to 10, although larger litters A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae known. Although Atheris are frequently reported as being only mildly dangerous to humans, it is quite possible that this is more an artifact of the limited number of known envenomations than of the actual potential of the snakes to cause harm. At least one reported fatality is known from an A. No antivenin is produced for any vipers of this genus, and it seems Old World Vipers there is only minimal neutralization of their venom by that produced for other species. Any bush viper species should therefore be treated with extreme caution. Named after the single, elongated horn at the tip of its snout, the long- nosed viper is a stout-bodied species with wide distribution throughout southern Europe, along the Mediterranean and Baltic coasts. It has the distinction of being the most dangerous venomous snake of Europe, with A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae potent venom that it is not at all averse to using when disturbed. The maximum length of a long-nosed viper is around 3 A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae, with males growing slightly larger than females. The orange phase of the long-nosed viper is a particularly eye-catching snake. There are several subspecies of V. Viperinae - Wikipedia

The Viperinaeor viperines, are a subfamily of venomous vipers endemic to EuropeAsia and Africa. They are distinguished by their lack of the heat- sensing pit organs that characterize their sister groupthe subfamily Crotalinae. Currently, 12 genera and 66 species are recognized. Most species are terrestrialbut a few, such as those of the genus Atherisare completely arboreal. Although the heat-sensing pits that characterize the Crotalinae are clearly lacking in the viperines, a Old World Vipers sac with sensory function has been described in a number of species. This sac is an invagination of the skin between the supranasal and nasal scales and is connected to the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve. The nerve endings Old World Vipers resemble those in the labial pits of boas. The supernasal sac is present in the genera DaboiaPseudocerastes and Caususbut A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae especially well developed in the genus Bitis. Experiments have shown that strikes are not only guided by visual and chemical cues, but also by heat, with warmer targets being struck more frequently than colder ones. Viperinae are found in EuropeAsiaand Africa[1] but not in . Generally, members of this subfamily are ovoviviparousalthough a few, such as PseudocerastesCerastesand some Echis species are oviparous egg-laying. T Type genus. Until relatively recently, two other genera were also included in the Viperinae. However, they were eventually considered so distinctive within the Viperidaethat separate subfamilies were created for them: [1]. Nevertheless, these groups, together with the genera currently recognized as belonging to the Viperinae, are still often referred to collectively as the true vipers. Broadley recognized a new tribe, Atherini, for the genera AtherisAdenorhinosMontatheris and Proatheristhe type genus for which is Atheris. From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core. Jump to: navigationsearch. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. ISBN series. ISBN volume. ISBN Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. ISBN X. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 4 August Snakes of the World. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. Breidenbach CH. Journal of Herpetology 4 : Broadley DG. A A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae of the tribe Atherini Serpentes: Viperidaewith the descriptions of two new genera. African Journal of Herpetology 45 2 : Cantor TE. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta 16 2 :, []. Cuvier G. Eichwald, E. Zoologia specialis, quam expositis animalibus tum vivis, tum fossilibus potissimuni rossiae in universum, et poloniae in specie, in usum lectionum publicarum in Universitate Caesarea Vilnensi. Vilnius: Zawadski. Fitzinger A Natural History of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae. Nebst einer verwandtschafts-tafel und einem verzeichnisse der reptilien-sammlung des K. Vienna: J. Gray JE. Annals of PhilosophyNew Series, 10 : []. The Reptiles of British . London: Ray Society. Latreille PA. Lynn WG. American Old World Vipers of Anatomy 49 : Oppel M. Ordre II. Section II. Strauch A. Category : Viperinae. Hidden category: Articles with 'species' microformats. Navigation menu Personal tools Log in Request account. Namespaces Page Discussion. Views Read View source View history. Old World Vipers page was last modified on 23 Septemberat This article's content derived from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia See original source. Privacy policy About Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core Disclaimers Mobile view. Russell's viperDaboia russeliia viperine. Viperinae Oppel Central Tanzania : Udzungwe and Ukinga Mountains. Tropical subsaharan Africaexcluding southern Africa. Africa and the southern . Laurenti eastward through Arabia and . Alcock and Finn The desert region of Balochistan near the Iran - - border. Reuss : moorlands of the Aberdare range and Mount Kenya above m. From the Sinai of eastward to Pakistan. T. Also found in northern Africa in MoroccoAlgeria and . Wikimedia Commons has media related to Viperinae.