Cycladic viper
| Cycladic viper | ||||||||||||
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Cycladic viper ( Macroektivena schweizeri ) |
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| Macrohabena schweizeri | ||||||||||||
| ( Werner , 1935) |
The macrovipera schweizeri ( Macrovipera schweizeri ), also known as Milosotter known, a Aegean Viper of the genus macrovipera ( Macrovipera ).
etymology
The name "Cyclades viper" indicates the distribution area in the Cyclades . The snake bears the scientific species name “schweizeri” in honor of Hans Schweizer (1891–1975), who researched it in its natural habitat and discovered in 1938 that it lay eggs.
description
The Cycladic viper reaches a total length of 60 to 75 cm, maximum 100 cm. Your body is a bit stocky. The triangular shaped head is clearly separated from the neck and has pronounced edges of the snout. The head scales are small and keeled, the larger body scales are also keeled. The basic color is light gray, on the back and on the flanks there are between 30 and 40 dark horizontal stripes and individual, smaller spots. The head is only faintly drawn. Single-colored dark gray, orange, reddish, brownish or melanistic specimens rarely occur .
Snake venom
As a viper, the Cycladic viper has poison glands and retractable tubular poison teeth. Their poison is made up of blood coagulants and hemorrhagins . Although the species is one of the most poisonous snakes in Greece, bites are apparently not fatal. Due to the rarity of the viper, there are hardly any accidents with bites. Even so, their bites must be taken extremely seriously. The consequences of a poison bite can be pain, sometimes severe swelling, lymphangitis , necrosis as well as hypotension , tachycardia , internal bleeding and gastrointestinal (gastrointestinal tract) complaints. There is a risk of shock . It is treated with a polyvalent antivenin .
Way of life
During the cooler spring, the Cycladic viper is diurnal, in summer it is crepuscular and nocturnal. It mainly eats birds , especially songbirds , as well as smaller lizards and even invertebrates such as beetles , but it also preyes on introduced rodents . She catches her prey as a lurker at water holes or climbs after birds on their roosts in the branches of bushes and trees. The hibernation is only brief. The species reproduces through oviparity (laying eggs), females have a two-year cycle. Courtship and mating take place between late April and late May, especially near water. The clutch contains up to 11 eggs and is laid in July. The eggs are 35 to 54 mm long and between 20 and 26 mm wide. Their breeding time is only short, the young snakes measure 16 to 22 cm when they hatch.
Occurrence
The Cycladic viper is endemic to the western Cyclades of the Aegean Sea . It occurs on the islands of Milos , Sifnos , Kimolos , Polyegos and some of their secondary islands at heights of up to 350 m. above sea level. Their habitat are barren, rocky areas with bush vegetation, mostly near water. Agricultural areas are also settled. The species seeks refuge under roots, between rocks and in masonry.
Systematics
The Cycladic viper was first described in 1935 by the Austrian herpetologist Franz Werner as a subspecies of the Levant otter ( Macrophia lebetina ) and has long been recognized as such. The subdivision of Macrophia schweizeri into the subspecies Macroypena schweizeri schweizeri and Macroypena schweizeri siphnensis is under discussion, but is currently still questionable as genetic studies are lacking so far .
- See also: Systematics of Grand Vipers
Hazard and protection
The Cycladic viper is one of the most endangered European snake species. The main threat is habitat loss as a result of tourism and the mining of mineral ores, but also through livestock farming and wildfires. Up to 10% loss can be attributed to snake smugglers and, especially in summer, to road traffic. Up to 1500 specimens of this species were caught illegally every year, due to depreciation it is currently still a good 100. The wild population is currently estimated at 2000 to 3000 animals. The main focus when protecting this species is the protection of the habitat . The goal is large-scale protection zones and the control of tourism while observing nature conservation. Special snake tunnels beneath the streets have proven to be useful. Macrohabena schweizeri is listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention . The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) has listed the species as "endangered" since 2006, but currently describes the population as stable.
The Cycladic viper is listed as a priority species by the European Union in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive and is therefore a species of community interest that must be strictly protected, and for whose preservation special protected areas must be designated by the member states.
swell
Individual evidence
- ↑ Chris Mattison: Encyclopedia of the Snakes , blv Verlag, ISBN 978-3835403604 .
- ↑ Mario Schweiger: The venomous snakes of Europe. (PDF; 1.9 MB)
- ↑ IUCN Red List: Macrophia schweizeri
literature
- Dieter Glandt: Pocket dictionary of amphibians and reptiles in Europe. All types from the Canary Islands to the Urals. Quelle and Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2010, ISBN 3494014701 .
- Mark O'Shea: Venomous Snakes - All species in the world in their habitats. Kosmos Verlag, 2006, ISBN 3-440-1061-95 .
Web links
- Macrohabena schweizeri in The Reptile Database
- Interview with Mario Schweiger on milos-greece.com: Macrophia schweizeri (Milosocket)