Montivipera raddei

The Armenian Viper or Montivipera Raddei (Lat: "Montivipera Raddei", Hy: «Հայկական իժ») is part of the family Viperidae, living in rocky habitats in and around Armenia ^[1][2][3]. Known also by local names, it is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the Armenian Highlands, including coutries like Armenia, (South-East) Turkey, (North) Iraq, and the Northern Zagros Mountains in (North-West) Iran. Two subspecies are currently recognised ^[1][2].

Montivipera raddei
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1][2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Montivipera
Species:	M. raddei
Binomial name
Montivipera raddei Boettger, 1890

Etymology

The specific name, raddei, is in honor of German naturalist Gustav Radde.^[4]

Common names

Common names for M. raddei include rock viper, Radde's mountain viper, Armenian mountain viper,^[5] Armenian viper,^[6] Radde's viper,^[7] Armenian mountain adder^[8].

Description

Adult males of M. raddei grow to a maximum total length (including tail) of 99 cm (39 in). Adult females are smaller with a maximum total length of 79 cm (31 in).^[5]

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Geographic range

Montivipera raddei is found in Eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, Armenia, Nakhijevan, and probably Iraq. This species is parapatric or slightly sympatric with M. wagneri in the Arax River valley, Kars Province in Eastern Turkey.

Conservation status

Montivipera raddei is classified as Lower Risk with a subcategory of least concern (LR/lc) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v2.3, 1994).^[9] This indicates that it has been evaluated, but that it does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. Also, it does not qualify for Conservation Dependent or Near Threatened either. Year assessed: 1996.^[10]

It is, however, listed as a protected species (Appendix III) under the Berne Convention.^[11]

Taxonomy

Montivipera raddei is apparently closely related to Montivipera r. albicornuta and M. latifii; together they sometimes form the Montivipera raddei complex. There are two subspecies: the nominate from Armenia, Nakhijevan, Eastern Turkey, North-West Iran.