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Vipera sakoi

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Vipera sakoi
Scientific classification Edit this 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

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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

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Vipera sakoi is generally found in the Gumuşhane District of Turkey.[2] V. sakoi is typically found in areas with limestone rocks, taluses and shrubs.

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Vipera sakoi". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  3. ^ 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.