Gloydius cognatus

Gloydius cognatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Gloydius
Species:
G. cognatus
Binomial name
Gloydius cognatus
Gloyd, 1977

Gloydius cognatus, or the Alashan pitviper, is a species of Asian moccasin from North West China and Mongolia. As with all pit vipers it is venomous, and it is considered the most toxic species of Gloydius in China.[1][2]

Description

Considered a small viper, growing to 59 cm, the Alashan pitviper is distinguished from similar species by its specific scale counts as well as its banded pattern including 29-43 dark bands.[3]

Habitat

The Alashan pitviper has been known to in habit desert or desertification grassland at elevations above 1300 m to above 3000 m, preferring temperate, rock/gravel areas with low rainfall.[1]

Reproduction

Gloydius cognatus is known to be viviparous.[2]

Taxonomy

G. cognatus has previously been considered a subspecies of G. halys, and a synonym of G. brevicaudus and either G. strauchi or G. intermedius.[2][4] It is now elevated to its own separate species,[5] and is theorised to have split from G. halys and G. intermedius during the pleistocene.[1]

While multiple distinct clades of G. cognatus have been recognised as of 2023, no subspecies are currently recognised.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Xu, Rui; Dujsebayeva, Tatjana N.; Chen, Dali; Mijidsuren, Byambasuren; Xu, Feng; Guo, Xianguang (January 2023). "Phylogeography and Ecological Niche Modeling of the Alashan Pit Viper (Gloydius cognatus; Reptilia, Viperidae) in Northwest China and Adjacent Areas". Animals. 13 (23): 3726. doi:10.3390/ani13233726. ISSN 2076-2615. PMC 10705372. PMID 38067077.
  2. ^ a b c "Gloydius cognatus". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  3. ^ Wagner, Philipp; Tiutenko, Arthur; Mazepa, Glib; Borkin, Leo J.; Simonov, Evgeniy (2016-01-01). "Alai! Alai! – a new species of the Gloydius halys (Pallas, 1776) complex (Viperidae, Crotalinae), including a brief review of the complex". Amphibia-Reptilia. 37 (1): 15–31. doi:10.1163/15685381-00003026. ISSN 1568-5381.
  4. ^ Biological Society of Washington; Washington, Biological Society of; Washington, Biological Society of; Washington, Biological Society of; Institution, Smithsonian; Institution, Smithsonian (1977). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. Vol. v.90 (1977). Washington: Biological Society of Washington.
  5. ^ Asadi, Atefeh; Montgelard, Claudine; Nazarizadeh, Masoud; Moghaddasi, Akram; Fatemizadeh, Faezeh; Simonov, Evgeniy; Kami, Haji Gholi; Kaboli, Mohammad (2019-02-04). "Evolutionary history and postglacial colonization of an Asian pit viper (Gloydius halys caucasicus) into Transcaucasia revealed by phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses". Scientific Reports. 9 (1): 1224. Bibcode:2019NatSR...9.1224A. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-37558-8. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 6362119. PMID 30718614.


Stub icon

This Alethinophidia article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.