Wagner's viper (''Montivipera wagneri''), known as the ocellate mountain viper, ocellated mountain viper, and Wagner's viper, Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G (2003). ''True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers''. Malabar Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. . is a species of venomous snake in the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to eastern Turkey and northwestern Iran. There are no

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

that are recognized as being valid.

Etymology

The

specific name Specific name may refer to: * in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules: * Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...

, ''wagneri'', is in honor of

Moritz Wagner Moritz Wagner may refer to: * Moritz Wagner (basketball) (born 1997), German professional basketball player * Moritz Wagner (naturalist) Moritz Wagner (Bayreuth, 3 October 1813 – Munich, 31 May 1887) was a German explorer, collector, geographer ...

, a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

explorer, who collected the type specimen in 1846.

Description

''V. wagneri'' grows to a maximum total length (including tail) of . The head is relatively large, elongate, and distinct from the neck. The snout is rounded and covered with small keeled scales. The rostal is in contact with 2–3 apical scales. The eyes are in broad contact with the large

supraoculars In scaled reptiles, supraocular scales are (enlarged) scales on the crown immediately above the eye.Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. ...

and surrounded by 12–15

circumorbital scales In scaled reptiles, the ocular scales are those forming the margin of the eye.Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. ''Handbook of Snakes''. Comstock Publishing Associates (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. . The name originates from the term ''oculus'' which ...

. Across the top of the head, there are 6–7

interocular scales In snakes, the interorbital scales, or intersupraoculars, are the scales on the top of the head between the plates surmounting the eyesWright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. . ( ...

. There are usually 9

upper labials In reptiles, the supralabial scales, also called upper-labials, are those scales that border the mouth opening along the upper jaw. They do not include the median scaleWright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates ( ...

and 12–13 lower labials. The former are separated from the eye by 1–2 rows of scales. The nostril is located within a single

nasal scale In reptiles, the nasal scale refers to the scale that encloses the nostril.Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. . Sometimes this ...

. The temporal scales are keeled, and there is usually one canthal scale on either side of the head. Midbody there are 23 rows of keeled dorsal scales. There are 2–3

preventral scales Preventral scales are snake scales positioned anterior to the ventral scales and are wider than they are long, but do not come into contact with the paraventral row of dorsal scales on either side of the body. Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. ''The Ven ...

, 161–170

ventrals In snakes, the ventral scales or gastrosteges are the enlarged and transversely elongated scales that extend down the underside of the body from the neck to the anal scale. When counting them, the first is the anteriormost ventral scale that cont ...

, and 23–31 paired subcaudals. The anal plate is single. The dorsal color pattern consists of a grayish ground color, overlaid with a central series of occasionally connected blotches or spots that run from the back of the head to the tail. These blotches are light brown to yellowish brown or orange, with black borders, and each is 4–8.5 scales wide. The top of the head usually has two black elongated blotches that form a large dark open V marking, but without an apex. The arms of the V end on the neck. There is usually a dark stripe that runs from the corner of the eye to the angle of the mouth.

Geographic range

''Montivipera wagneri'' is found in the mountains of eastern Turkey and adjacent northwestern Iran. The type locality given is "vicinity of Lake Urmia (''Armenisch-Persische Grenze'' Armenian-Persian border, province Azerbaijan, N.W. Iran".

Conservation status

The species ''M. wagneri'' was classified as " endangered" (EN) in 1996. In 2009 the status was changed to " critically endangered" (CR) due to strong population decline caused by exploitation and collection for the international pet trade. Additionally, the planned Karakurt dam complex will result in the loss of over 80% of the suitable habitat. This species is also listed on CITES Appendix II, which means that it is not necessarily threatened with extinction, but may become so if international trade in it is not monitored.''Montivipera wagneri''
a
CITES
an
United Nations Environment Programme / World Conservation Monitoring Centre
Accessed 8 October 2006. It is, however, listed as a strictly protected species (Appendix II) under the Berne Convention.Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Appendix II
a
Council of Europe
Accessed 9 October 2006. The main threats are capture for the exotic pet trade and habitat loss due to dam construction. Nine endangered ocellate mountain vipers were hatched on August 16, 2013 at the St. Louis Zoo. The St. Louis Zoo is a part of a cooperative breeding and conservation program for this endangered species. The zoo's vipers were bred on the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan.

Etymology

Description

Geographic range

Conservation status

Habitat

Reproduction

References

Further reading