Vipera sakoi
| Vipera sakoi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Vipera |
| Species: | V. sakoi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Vipera sakoi Tuniyev et al., 2018
| |
Vipera sakoi, also known as Sako's viper, is a possible species of viper found in Turkey.[1] These names are in honour of the son, friend and colleague of Tuniyev et al., Sako Tuniyev, who studied shield-headed snakes and passed away three years prior to the official description of the snake.[2] The status of V. sakoi is uncertain as, while it is 4-5% genetically distinct from Vipera darevskii, their isolation from each other is uncertain. It is possible V. sakoi is a part of V. darevskii.[3]
Description
Sako's viper is generally a rather small species.[2] Scale numbers depend on sex. Males have a small number of midbody and apical scales and a large number of preventral scales.[2] Females, on the other hand, have a large number of ventral scales, as well as a small number of sublabial scales.[2] Both sexes have a small number of shield scales.[2] Vipers from the Erzincan area are unique from all other vipers by their small number of loreal scales and large number of supralabial scales.[2]
In terms of patterning, females have a rather small number of zigzags, with a continuous pattern, while males have a larger number of disconnected zigzags.[1] Dorsally, males are grey while females are light brown, and ventrally, females are light grey and males are dark-spotted.[1] All Sako's Vipers have a white throat.[1]
Distribution
Vipera sakoi is generally found in the Gumuşhane District of Turkey.[2] Usually, V. sakoi is more common in areas with limestone rocks, taluses and shrubs.
References
- ^ a b c d Tuniyev, B.S.; Avcı, A.; Ilgaz, ç.; Olgun, K.; Petrova, T.V.; Bodrov, S.Yu.; Geniez, P.; Teynié, A. (2018-03-23). "On taxonomic status of shiled-head vipers from Turkish Lesser Caucasus and East Anatolia". Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS (in Russian). 322 (1): 3–44. doi:10.31610/trudyzin/2018.322.1.3. ISSN 0206-0477.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Vipera sakoi". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
- ^ Freitas, Inês; Ursenbacher, Sylvain; Mebert, Konrad; Zinenko, Oleksandr; Schweiger, Silke; Wüster, Wolfgang; Brito, José C.; Crnobrnja-Isailović, Jelka; Halpern, Bálint; Fahd, Soumia; Santos, Xavier; Pleguezuelos, Juan M.; Joger, Ulrich; Orlov, Nikolay; Mizsei, Edvárd (2020-06-30). "Evaluating taxonomic inflation: towards evidence-based species delimitation in Eurasian vipers (Serpentes: Viperinae)". Amphibia-Reptilia. 41 (3): 285–311. doi:10.1163/15685381-bja10007. hdl:10261/237408. ISSN 0173-5373.
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