A new species of viper was found in the left-bank basin of the middle reaches of the Kura River.
The reptiles were named in honor of Boris Tuniev, a famous Russian herpetologist, deputy director for research at the Sochi National Park Federal State, who made a significant contribution to the study of the herpetofauna of the Caucasus and the taxonomy of the shield-headed viper snakes, who collected and initially processed a type series of vipers from the left bank of the Kura River.
«During the expeditionary work of the Sochi National Park to collect materials for the first edition of the Red Book of the Republic of South Ossetia, peculiar vipers were found, having a clear relationship with the Caucasian viper (Pelias kaznakovi). Later, the Georgian colleagues sent the same vipers from the Borjomi Gorge in Eastern Georgia. Comparison of the collected animals with the vipers of Kaznakov and Dinnik showed their significant differences in morphology and genetics. Based on the morphological and molecular results, the scientists came to the conclusion that the species is independent», - said the press service of the Sochi National Park.
Among the representatives of the Caucasian viper, the new species has the minimum body length, length and width of the head, features of the scaly cover; the structure of the hemipenis is also different. The patterns of Tuniyev's viper are very diverse. The main background of adult and young males is beige-gray, yellowish-gray, rarely brownish-reddish, or yellow; females are pinkish-gray, light brown, gray-yellow, there are melanists.
The zigzag in most females is wider, almost continuous, undulating, light brown, pink-brown, or dark brown, sometimes with dark brown wings; males have a zigzag, regardless of width, with sharp wings, intermittent in places, black, or brown-black. In young and semi-mature individuals, the zigzag does not differ from the zigzag of adult animals, and the color is less bright. The throat of all specimen is light; the belly of most specimens is gray-spotted against a dark background.
In young and semi-mature individuals, the zigzag does not differ from the zigzag of adult animals, and the color is less bright. The throat of all specimen is light; the belly of most specimen is gray-spotted against a dark background. All known finds of Tuniev's viper were found in the left-bank basin of the middle course of the Kura River from the Borjomi Gorge in Georgia to the mid-mountainous regions of South Ossetia.
Blogs
