Montivipera Research Articles

Spatial Ecology of Armenian Vipers, Montivipera raddei , in Two Different Landscapes: Human-Modified vs. Recovered-Natural

Armenian Vipers, Montivipera raddei , have a range that includes Armenia and portions of eastern Turkey, western Azerbaijan, and northwestern Iran. They have a fragmented and restricted distribution that has been severely impacted by human activities, namely habitat alteration/degradation and over-collection for the pet trade, over the past 40 years. We used radiotelemetry to study and compare the spatial ecology of Armenian Vipers inhabiting a human-modified landscape near Abovian in Koytak Province and a recovered-natural landscape in Shikahogh State Reserve in Syunik Province. Radio-tracking at Abovian took place during 2008 – 2009 (8 males, 6 females) and during 2010 – 2012 at Shikahogh State Reserve (7 males, 4 females). Prey surveys were conducted at both sites to evaluate the abundance of small mammals. We found significant differences between the two populations in terms of home range size and mean movements. Home range and movements were significantly larger in the human-modified landscape. We found no difference in body condition between the two landscapes or a correlation between body condition and home range size. Prey abundance was significantly higher in the recovered-natural landscape. While the conservation of intact natural habitat should be given the highest priority, management strategies in agricultural landscapes should include both the inclusion of corridors to allow for movement between parcels of habitat and the maintenance of high quality habitat within these landscapes to provide cover and food for both small mammals and vipers.

Envenomation by an Armenian Viper, Montivipera raddei (Boettger 1890): A Case History

Envenomations to humans by the Armenian viper, Montivipera raddei are rare due to the species occurrence in rugged human unfrequented habitat. This paper presents a case history of the signs and symptoms of an envenomation to a human by M. raddei in Armenia, and it is believed to be the first documented account.

A New Species of Mountain Viper (Ophidia: Viperidae) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran

Recent studies of the reptile fauna in central Zagros mountains have concluded in the finding of a single specimen of a new taxon in the raddei species group in the genus Montivipera . In addition a photo of a second specimen from the same locality — the Kuhrang region, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran is available. Although there is only a single specimen at hand we are not able to compare the variation in morphological features with known taxa of Montivipera raddei species group, but the morphological characteristics of this single specimen separates it from any former known taxa within Montivipera . It clearly belongs to the M. raddei species group and in some features it is similar to M. latifii but unique in color patter and other characters. We consider it to be a separate and isolated new species, Montivipera kuhrangica . The species seems to be very rare and is certainly highly exposed to a risk of habitat destruction and it needs conservation programs.