Mount Bulgar viper explained

The Mount Bulgar viper (Montivipera bulgardaghica), also called the Bulgardagh viper^[1] is a viper species endemic to the mountains of southern Turkey.^[1] Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Description

It grows to a maximum total length (body + tail) of about 78cm (31inches).^[1]

Geographic range

It is found in the Bulgar Dagh (Bolkar Dagi) mountains, Nigde Province, south central Anatolia, Turkey. It is a rarely seen animal.

The type locality given is "Cilician Taurus (Kar Boghaz, Bulgar Dagh, 2500 m) province Nigde" (= Karbogaz, Bolkar dagi Ulukişla, 8,200 ft), south central Anatolia, Turkey.

Conservation status

This species is classified as Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

It is also listed as a protected species (Appendix III) under the Berne Convention.^[2]

Taxonomy

This species was considered by Golay et al. (1993) to be a subspecies of M. xanthina, and was subsequently moved to the genus Montivipera by Nilson et al. (1999), who considered it to be a synonym of Montivipera xanthina.

Further reading

• Golay P, Smith HM, Broadley DG, Dixon JR, McCarthy CJ, Rage J-C, Schätti B, Toriba M. 1993. Endoglyphs and Other Major Venomous Snakes of the World: A Checklist. Geneva: Azemiops. 478 pp.
• Nilson G, Andrén C. 1985. Systematics of the Vipera xanthina complex (Reptilia: Viperidae). 3. Taxonomic status of the Bulgar Dagh viper in south Turkey. Journal of Herpetology 19 (2): 276-283. (Vipera bulgardaghica, new species)

Notes and References

1. Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. .
2. http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/FR/Treaties/Html/104-3.htm Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Appendix III