Gloydius

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Gloydius
Gloydius ussuriensis in its natural habitat (Jejudo, South Korea)

Gloydius ussuriensis in its natural habitat ( Jejudo , South Korea)

Systematics
without rank: Toxicofera
Subordination : Snakes (serpentes)
Superfamily : Adder-like and viper-like (Colubroidea)
Family : Vipers (Viperidae)
Subfamily : Pit vipers (Crotalinae)
Genre : Gloydius
Scientific name
Gloydius
Hoge & Romano-Hoge , 1981

Gloydius , sometimes referred to as Halysotters , is a genus of vipers (Viperidae) within the pit otters (Crotalinae).

Features and way of life

The genus Gloydius includes small to medium-sized species whose body length is mostly less than one meter. The upper jaw ( maxillary ) has anterior and movable fangs (poison teeth) ( solenoglyph tooth position). As is typical for pit vipers , there is a heat-sensitive pit organ between the eye and the nostril . The species are described as ground-dwelling and diurnal and reproduce through ovoviviparia (egg-bearing life).

Systematics

The taxon Gloydius was established by the Belgian zoologists Alphonse Richard Hoge & Sylvia Romano-Hoge in 1981. Some representatives of the genus were temporarily assigned to the genus Agkistrodon . Allocation was largely based on external characteristics. The age of the genus Gloydius is estimated to be around 15 million years, while decisive diversification processes began around 9.89 million years ago. At the moment (as of 2018) 15 species are listed:

Another species, Gloydius saxatilis , is considered in part synonymous with Gloydius intermedius and Gloydius shedaoensis , while Xu et al. (2012) and Wallach et al. (2014) Gloydius saxatilis as a separate species.

On the basis of molecular biological two mitochondrial (cyt b, ND4) and one nuclear gene (c-mos) of 10 Gloydius species, the phylogenetic relationships of the genus were investigated. The results confirm Gloydius as a Monophylum (biological family group whose species can be traced back to a common ancestor). Furthermore, two main clades were identified within the genus:

  1. Gloydius brevicaudus , Gloydius blomhoffii and Gloydius ussuriensis
  2. Gloydius intermedius , Gloydius saxatilis , Gloydius halys and Gloydius shedaoensis .

Nevertheless, the general taxonomy of the genus needs to be discussed. The status of the main clades and the phylogenetic relationships of Gloydius strauchi , Gloydius qinlingensis and Gloydius liupanensis are unclear.

distribution

Species of the genus are common in Asia. The Halysotter ( Gloydius halys ) is the only representative of the Crotalinae to penetrate west into Russian continental Europe. The preferred biotopes differ depending on the species and can include both wet and dry habitats, open areas, rocky terrain, forests or swamps. Gloydius himalayanus is considered the snake species with the highest occurrence and was found in the high mountains at around 4900 meters above sea level. Furthermore colonize Gloydius strauchi , Gloydius qinlingensis and Gloydius liupanensis also montane areas.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Chris Mattison: Encyclopedia of Snakes , BLV Buchverlag, Munich, 2007. ISBN 978-3-8354-0360-4 .
  2. ↑ a b c d Xu, Liu, Myers et al .: Molecular Phylogeny of the Genus Gloydius (Serpentes: Crotalinae) , Asian Herpetological Research 2012, 3 (2): 127-132.
  3. ^ The Reptile Database : Search Results; exact match: Gloydius (accessed July 24, 2018)
  4. ↑ The Reptile Database: Gloydius intermedius (accessed July 24, 2018)
  5. ↑ Dieter Schmidt: Atlas snakes; Species, attitude, care , bede-Verlag, Ruhmannsfelden, 2006; Nikol Verlag (2009). ISBN 978-3-86820-011-9 .

literature

  • Ludwig Trutnau: Snakes in the Terrarium Vol. 2: Poisonous snakes . Verlag Ulmer, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-800-1705-23 .

Web links

Commons : Gloydius  - collection of images, videos and audio files