Proatheris: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
imported>Thomas E Kelly No edit summary |
Pat Palmer (talk | contribs) mNo edit summary |
||
| (10 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{subpages}} | |||
{{Taxobox | {{Taxobox | ||
| color = pink | | color = pink | ||
| name = ''Proatheris'' | | name = ''Proatheris'' | ||
| regnum = Animalia | |||
| regnum = | | phylum = Chordata | ||
| phylum = | | subphylum = Vertebrata | ||
| subphylum = | | classis = Reptilia | ||
| classis = | | ordo = Squamata | ||
| ordo = | | subordo = Serpentes | ||
| subordo = | | familia = Viperidae | ||
| familia = | |||
| subfamilia = [[Viperinae]] | | subfamilia = [[Viperinae]] | ||
| genus = '''''Proatheris''''' | | genus = '''''Proatheris''''' | ||
| genus_authority = | | genus_authority = Broadley, 1996 | ||
| species = '''''P. superciliaris''''' | | species = '''''P. superciliaris''''' | ||
| binomial = ''Proatheris superciliaris'' | | binomial = ''Proatheris superciliaris'' | ||
| binomial_authority = ( | | binomial_authority = (Peters, 1854) | ||
| synonyms = * ''Proatheris'' - Broadley, 1996<ref name="McD99">McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).</ref> | | synonyms = * ''Proatheris'' - Broadley, 1996<ref name="McD99">McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).</ref> | ||
---- | ---- | ||
| Line 23: | Line 24: | ||
* ''Proatheris superciliaris'' - Broadley, 1996<ref name="McD99"/> | * ''Proatheris superciliaris'' - Broadley, 1996<ref name="McD99"/> | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Proatheris''''' is a monotypic genus<ref name="ITIS-G">[http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634427 ''Proatheris'' (TSN 634427)] at [http://www.itis.gov/index.html Integrated Taxonomic Information System]. Accessed 23 March 2007.</ref> created for a venomous [[Viperinae|viper]] species, ''P. superciliaris''. This is a small terrestrial species found in Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.<ref name="SB95"/> No subspecies are currently recognized.<ref name="ITIS-G"/> | |||
'''Common names:''' lowland viper, swamp viper,<ref name="SB95">Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.</ref> lowland swamp viper, <ref name="EMBL">{{EMBL species|genus=Proatheris|species=superciliaris}}</ref> eyebrow viper, <ref name="Mal03">Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.</ref> [[Proatheris#Common names|more]]. | '''Common names:''' lowland viper, swamp viper,<ref name="SB95">Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.</ref> lowland swamp viper, <ref name="EMBL">{{EMBL species|genus=Proatheris|species=superciliaris}}</ref> eyebrow viper, <ref name="Mal03">Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.</ref> [[Proatheris#Common names|more]]. | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
==Geographic range== | ==Geographic range== | ||
Found in East Africa. The southern part of its range begins near Beira, in central Mozambique, extends up north over the Mozambique Plain to Quissanga, and through Malawi and as far north as the floodplains of southern Tanzania at the northern end of Lake Malawi. The type locality given is "Terra Querimba" (Quissanga mainland oppositeIlha Quirimba, Mozanbique).<ref name="McD99"/> | |||
Its range it apparently centered around the lower section of the | Its range it apparently centered around the lower section of the Zambezi River and spreads out into the coastal plain of central Mozambique and the Shire Valley to Lake Chilwa and Malawi. However, other specimens have been found far from this region, such as in Cape Delgado, in north-eastern Mozambique, and Mwaya in south-western Tanzania.<ref name="SB95"/> | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| Line 50: | Line 50: | ||
==Venom== | ==Venom== | ||
First known case reported by Els (1988) involving a 20 cm juvenile and 24-year-old victim penetrated by a single fang. The results were painful, but there were none of the strongly | First known case reported by Els (1988) involving a 20 cm juvenile and 24-year-old victim penetrated by a single fang. The results were painful, but there were none of the strongly hemotoxic symptoms that had been associated with ''[[Atheris]]'' venom up to that point.<ref name="Mal03"/> | ||
In a second case in 1996, however, the victim experienced severe hemolysis and complete platelet destruction after which the liver and kidneys began to fail. When it was feared that the patient may die from | In a second case in 1996, however, the victim experienced severe hemolysis and complete platelet destruction after which the liver and kidneys began to fail. When it was feared that the patient may die from hemolytic-uremic syndrome, a plasmapheresis was performed. Luckily, the patient survived, but it is now obvious that ''P. superciliaris'' venom is very hemotoxic.<ref name="WOA-V">[http://www.kingsnake.com/atheris/venom.html Venom] at [http://www.kingsnake.com/atheris/index.html World of Atheris] ([http://www.kingsnake.com/ Kingsnake.com])</ref> | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
This species was previously placed in the genus ''[[Atheris]]'' based on skull characteristics and because of its partially prehensile tail.<ref name="Mal03"/> The name ''Proatheris'' is | This species was previously placed in the genus ''[[Atheris]]'' based on skull characteristics and because of its partially prehensile tail.<ref name="Mal03"/> The name ''Proatheris'' is Latin for "before-''atheris''".<ref name="WOA"/> | ||
== | ==Attribution== | ||
{{WPAttribution}} | |||
== | ==References== | ||
< | <small> | ||
<references | <references> | ||
</references> | |||
< | </small> | ||
OTHER: | |||
<small> | |||
* Els R. 1988. ''Atheris superciliaris'' envenomation. J Herpetol Assoc Afr 34:52. | * Els R. 1988. ''Atheris superciliaris'' envenomation. J Herpetol Assoc Afr 34:52. | ||
* Marais J. 1992. A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa. Malabar (FL): Krieger Publishing. 248 pp. | * Marais J. 1992. A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa. Malabar (FL): Krieger Publishing. 248 pp. | ||
* Marx H., Rabb G.B. 1965. Phyletic analysis of fifty characters of advanced snakes. Field Zool 63:1-321. | * Marx H., Rabb G.B. 1965. Phyletic analysis of fifty characters of advanced snakes. Field Zool 63:1-321. | ||
* Stevens RA. 1973. A report on the lowland viper, ''Atheris superciliaris'' from the Lake Chilwa floodplain of Malawi. Arnoldia (Rhodesia) 22:1-22. | * Stevens RA. 1973. A report on the lowland viper, ''Atheris superciliaris'' from the Lake Chilwa floodplain of Malawi. Arnoldia (Rhodesia) 22:1-22. | ||
</ | </small> | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:11, 28 November 2024
| Proatheris | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Proatheris superciliaris (Peters, 1854) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Synonyms | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Proatheris is a monotypic genus[2] created for a venomous viper species, P. superciliaris. This is a small terrestrial species found in Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.[3] No subspecies are currently recognized.[2]
Common names: lowland viper, swamp viper,[3] lowland swamp viper, [4] eyebrow viper, [5] more.
Description
A small species that averages 40 to 50 cm and a maximum of 61 cm in length. The females are slightly larger than the males. The head has a somewhat elongated appearance, the top of which is covered with small scales except for a pair of large supraocular scales, which are almost twice as long as they are wide.[5]
Common names
Lowland viper, swamp viper,[3] lowland swamp viper,[4] eyebrow viper, swamp adder, [5] Peter's viper, flood-plain viper.[6]
Geographic range
Found in East Africa. The southern part of its range begins near Beira, in central Mozambique, extends up north over the Mozambique Plain to Quissanga, and through Malawi and as far north as the floodplains of southern Tanzania at the northern end of Lake Malawi. The type locality given is "Terra Querimba" (Quissanga mainland oppositeIlha Quirimba, Mozanbique).[1]
Its range it apparently centered around the lower section of the Zambezi River and spreads out into the coastal plain of central Mozambique and the Shire Valley to Lake Chilwa and Malawi. However, other specimens have been found far from this region, such as in Cape Delgado, in north-eastern Mozambique, and Mwaya in south-western Tanzania.[3]
Habitat
Almost always found in low-lying marshes, floodplains and land frequently used for grazing cattle. The soil is never too dry, since this would make it difficult for the rodents that they feed on to dig their burrows. These snakes are entirely terrestrial and are usually found in or around these rodent burrows.[5]
Behavior
One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Atheris group (to which Proatheris is closely related), is that they have prehensile tails. With Proatheris, the young and subadults have this capability, but it is diminished in the adults.[5]
Feeding
Preys mainly on small frogs and toads. Occasionally, it also feeds on small rodents.[3]
Venom
First known case reported by Els (1988) involving a 20 cm juvenile and 24-year-old victim penetrated by a single fang. The results were painful, but there were none of the strongly hemotoxic symptoms that had been associated with Atheris venom up to that point.[5]
In a second case in 1996, however, the victim experienced severe hemolysis and complete platelet destruction after which the liver and kidneys began to fail. When it was feared that the patient may die from hemolytic-uremic syndrome, a plasmapheresis was performed. Luckily, the patient survived, but it is now obvious that P. superciliaris venom is very hemotoxic.[7]
Taxonomy
This species was previously placed in the genus Atheris based on skull characteristics and because of its partially prehensile tail.[5] The name Proatheris is Latin for "before-atheris".[6]
Attribution
- Some content on this page may previously have appeared on Wikipedia.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Proatheris (TSN 634427) at Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed 23 March 2007.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Species Proatheris superciliaris at the Species2000 Database
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Proatheris superciliaris at World of Atheris (Kingsnake.com)
- ↑ Venom at World of Atheris (Kingsnake.com)
OTHER:
- Els R. 1988. Atheris superciliaris envenomation. J Herpetol Assoc Afr 34:52.
- Marais J. 1992. A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa. Malabar (FL): Krieger Publishing. 248 pp.
- Marx H., Rabb G.B. 1965. Phyletic analysis of fifty characters of advanced snakes. Field Zool 63:1-321.
- Stevens RA. 1973. A report on the lowland viper, Atheris superciliaris from the Lake Chilwa floodplain of Malawi. Arnoldia (Rhodesia) 22:1-22.