''Vipera monticola'', also known as the Atlas mountain viper,
[Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. ''The Dangerous Snakes of Africa''. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. .] is a
viper species endemic to
Morocco.
Like all other vipers, it is
venomous.
Description
The ''Atlas mountain viper'' (''Vipera monticola'') is a very small species with a maximum total length (body + tail) of less than .
[Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. ''True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers''. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. .] Spawls and Branch (1995) describe it as the smallest member of the
genus ''
Vipera
''Vipera'' (; commonly known as the palaearctic vipersSpawls S, Branch B (1995). ''The Dangerous Snakes of Africa: Natural History, Species Directory, Venoms and Snakebite''. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books / Dubai: Oriental Press. 1 ...
'', reaching a total length of only .
Geographic range
It is found in the
High Atlas Mountains,
Morocco.
The
type locality
Type locality may refer to:
* Type locality (biology)
* Type locality (geology)
See also
* Local (disambiguation)
* Locality (disambiguation)
{{disambiguation ...
given is "''Haut-Atlas,
Massif du Toubkal, Maroc...qu'entre 2.500 et 3.900 m'' "
oubkal Massif, High Atlas Mountains, southwestern Morocco, between 8,200 and 12,800 ft
Conservation status
This species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) according to the
IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).
Listed as such because its extent of occurrence is likely not much more than 20,000 km², and the extent and quality of its habitat are probably declining, therefore making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable. Year assessed: 2005.
References
Further reading
*Beerli P, Billing H, Schätti B. 1986. ''Taxonomisches Status von'' Vipera latasti monticola ''Saint Girons, 1953 (Serpentes, Viperidae). Salamandra'' 22: 101-104.
*Klemmer K. 1963. ''Liste der rezenten Giftschlangen: Elapidae, Hydropheidae, Viperidae und Crotalidae''. Marburg: N.G. Elwert. 210 pp.
*
Saint-Girons H. 1953. ''Une vipère naine:'' Vipera latastei montana. ''Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France'' 78: 24-28.
*Saint-Girons H. 1954. ''Note rectificative au sujet de'' Vipera latastei montana, n. subsp. ''Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France'' 78: 475. (''Vipera latastei monticola'', replacement name.)
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q757042
monticola
Snakes of Africa
Reptiles of North Africa
Endemic fauna of Morocco
Reptiles described in 1954