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RAUK - Archived Forum - crimea snakes

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crimea snakes:

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Stanislaw
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Joined: 08 Mar 2008
No. of posts: 32


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Posted: 02 Jul 2008
Hi

What species of vipers lives on Crimea (Ukraine)? V.ursinii, something more? v.renardi maybe?

I apologize for my english :-)
David Bird
Forum Specialist
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 515


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Posted: 05 Jul 2008
The only species of Viper that is recorded for the Crimea and other southern parts of Ukraine is Vipera (Acridophaga) renardi renardi (Christoph 1861).
Vipera (Pelias) nikolskii Vedmederja, Grubant & Rudayeva 1986 is found in N.Ukraine well away from the Crimea.

David
British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker.
Stanislaw
Member
Joined: 08 Mar 2008
No. of posts: 32


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Posted: 05 Jul 2008
and what about vipera ursinii? this species doesn't live on the Crimea? Stanislaw39634.7151851852
I apologize for my english :-)
David Bird
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Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 515


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Posted: 07 Jul 2008
Vipera renardi was once considered a subspecies of Vipera ursinii, it is now generally accepted to be a full species meaning V.ursinii is more restricted in range than was previously recognised. V.ursinii moldavicaNilson, Andren & Joger 1993 is found in Romania and Moldova and is the furthest east that this species is now found. All populations east of Moldova are now assigned to V.renardi. Szczerbak,N.N 2003 Guide to the Reptiles of the Eastern Palearctic Krieger Publishing still has V.renardias a subspecies of V.ursinii so the map shows V.ursinii as occuring in Ukraine and countries to the east of this. I hope that this explains it, have you seen or have evidence of Crimean specimens that are not V.renardi. I do not think there is much evidence in the scalation or morphometrics to be able to separate the species.
British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker.
Stanislaw
Member
Joined: 08 Mar 2008
No. of posts: 32


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Posted: 08 Jul 2008
thank you, everything is clear to me now
I apologize for my english :-)
armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 928


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Posted: 08 Jul 2008
Vipera renardi that live on Orlov Island in that region are unusual in that they feed on young of waterfowl, and can grow in excess of 70cm.
'I get my kicks on Route 62'
armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 928


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Posted: 08 Jul 2008
I would just add that the 'ursinii' complex has not been fully resolved. However, a very good work was done in 2001 - Nilson,G.Andren, C. (2001) The meadow and steppe vipers of Europe and Asia - the Vipera (Acridophaga) ursinii complex. Acta zool.hung. 47.

Species currently in contention are V.anatolica, V.eriwanensis, V. ebneri and V.lotievi. (i.e. regarded by some (e.g. Joger 2003) as sub species of ursinii).
'I get my kicks on Route 62'

- crimea snakes

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