Viperidae
Asp viper, Vipera aspis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Viperidae Oppel, 1811
Synonyms
Viperae - Laurenti, 1768 Viperini - Oppel, 1811 Viperidae - Gray, 1825[1]

The Viperidae are a family of venomous snakes commonly referred to as vipers, although the term viperids is more specific and distinguishes them from the viperines (subfamily Viperinae). These snakes are found all over the world, except in Australia and Madagascar. All have relatively long hinged fangs that permit deep penetration and injection of venom. Four subfamilies are currently recognized.^[2] Image File history File links Vipera-aspis-aspis-1. ... Binomial name Vipera aspis (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms [Coluber] Aspis - Linnaeus, 1758 Vipera Mosis Charas - Laurenti, 1768 Vipera vulgaris - Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801 Vipera ocellata - Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801 Coluber Charasii - Shaw, 1802 [Vipera (Echidna)] Aspis - Merrem, 1820 C[hersea]. vulgaris - Fleming, 1822 Vipera aspis - Metaxa, 1823 Aspis ocellata... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... “Animalia” redirects here. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Classes and Clades See below Male and female Superb Fairy-wren Vertebrates are members of the subphylum Vertebrata (within the phylum Chordata), specifically, those chordates with backbones or spinal columns. ... Subclasses Anapsida Diapsida Synonyms Reptilia Laurenti, 1768 Reptiles are tetrapods and amniotes, animals whose embryos are surrounded by an amniotic membrane, and members of the class Sauropsida. ... Suborders Lacertilia- Lizards Serpentes - Snakes Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards This article is about the Squamata order of reptiles. ... blue: sea snakes, black: land snakes Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenopeltidae Typhlopoidea Anomalepididae Leptotyphlopidae Typhlopidae Xenophidia Acrochordidae Atractaspididae Colubridae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Viperidae A snake is a scaly, limbless, elongate reptile from the order Squamata. ... Nicolaus Michael Oppel (December 7, 1782–February 16, 1820) was a German naturalist. ... 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... In scientific nomenclature, synonyms are different scientific names used for a single taxon. ... A poisonous snake (properly, venomous snake) is a snake that uses saliva venom delivered through two fangs in its mouth to kill its prey. ... Genera Adenorhinos Atheris Azemiops Bitis Cerastes Daboia Echis Eristicophis Macrovipera Montatheris Proatheris Pseudocerastes Vipera This page is about Viper snakes. ... Wasp sting, with droplet of venom Venom (literally, poison of animal origin) is any of a variety of toxins used by animals, for the purpose of defense and hunting. ...

Description

All viperids have a pair of relatively long solenoglyphous (hollow) fangs, that are used to inject venom from glands located towards the rear of the upper jaws. Each of the two fangs is at the front of the mouth on a short maxillary bone that can rotate back and forth. When not in use, the fangs fold back against the roof of the mouth and are enclosed in a membranous sheath. The left and right fangs can be rotated together or independently. During a strike, the mouth can open nearly 180° and the maxilla rotates forward, erecting the fang. The jaws close on impact and powerful muscles that surround the venom glands contract to inject the venom as the fangs penetrate. This action is lightning-fast and is more a stab than a bite. Viperids use this mechanism both to immobilize their prey and in self-defense. Solenoglypha is a term that commonly refers to the group of venomous snakes that have tubular fangs positioned at the front of the jaw, namely the vipers. ... Wasp sting, with droplet of venom Venom (literally, poison of animal origin) is any of a variety of toxins used by animals, for the purpose of defense and hunting. ... The maxillary sinus is the largest paranasal sinus. ... The maxillae are the largest bones of the face, except for the mandible, and form, by their union, the whole of the upper jaw. ...

Almost all vipers have keeled scales, a stocky build with a short tail, and, due to the location of the venom glands, a triangular-shaped head distinct from the neck. Their eyes have vertically elliptical, or slit-shaped, pupils that can open wide to cover most of the eye or close almost completely, which helps them to see in a wide range of light levels. Typically, vipers are nocturnal and ambush their prey. Keeled scales refer to scales (on snakes, at least) that, rather than being smooth, have a ridge down the center. ... The human eye The pupil is the central transparent area (showing as black). ...

Compared to many other snakes, vipers often appear rather sluggish. Most are ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young, but a few lay eggs; the word "viper" is derived from Latin vivo = "I live" and pario = "I give birth".^[3] Ovoviviparous animals develop within eggs that remain within the mothers body up until they hatch or are about to hatch. ...

Venom

Viperid venoms typically contain an abundance of protein-degrading enzymes, called proteases, that produce symptoms such as pain, strong local swelling and necrosis, blood loss from cardiovascular damage complicated by coagulopathy, and disruption of the blood clotting system. Death is usually caused by collapse in blood pressure. This is in contrast to elapid venoms that generally contain neurotoxins that disable muscle contraction and cause paralysis. Death from elapid bites usually results from asphyxiation because the diaphragm can no longer contract. However, this rule does not always apply: some elapid bites include proteolytic symptoms typical of viperid bites, while some viperid bites produce neurotoxic symptoms.^[4] A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... Proteases (proteinases, peptidases, or proteolytic enzymes) are enzymes that break peptide bonds between amino acids of proteins. ... Genera Acanthophis - death adder Aspidelaps - shieldnose cobra Aspidomorphus - collared adder Austrelaps Boulengerina - water cobra Bungarus - Indian krait Cacophis - dwarf crowned snake Calliophis - Oriental coral snake Demansia - venomous whip snake Dendroaspis - mamba Denisonia - ornamental snake Drysdalia - Australian crown snake Echiopsis - bardick snake Elapognathus - little brown snake Elapsoidea - venomous garter snake Furina... A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells – neurons – usually by interacting with membrane proteins and ion channels. ... Proteolysis is the directed degradation (digestion) of proteins by cellular enzymes called proteases or by intramolecular digestion. ...

Proteolytic venom is also dual-penitration and anal sex, with alot of jizz: it is used for defense and to immobilize prey, as with neurotoxic venoms, and also many of the enzymes have a digestive function, breaking down molecules in prey items, such as lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.^[4] This is important, as many vipers have weak digestive systems.^[5] A polyunsaturated triglyceride. ... Look up nucleic acid in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Due to the nature of proteolytic venom, a viperid bite is often a very painful experience and should always be taken seriously, even though it is not necessarily fatal. Even with prompt and proper treatment, a bite can still result in a permanent scar, and in the worst cases the affected limb may even have to be amputated. A victim's fate is impossible to predict as this depends on many factors, including (but not limited to) the species and size of the snake involved, how much venom was injected (if any), and the size and condition of the patient before being bitten. The patient may also be allergic to the venom and/or the antivenin. Partial hand amputation For the song Amputations by Death Cab for Cutie, see You Can Play These Songs with Chords Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma (also referred to as avulsion) or surgery. ... ‹ The template below (Taginfo) is being considered for deletion. ... Antivenin (or antivenom, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ...

Subfamilies

Type genus = Vipera - Laurenti, 1768^[1] Binomial name Azemiops feae Boulenger, 1888 Synonyms Azemiops - Boulenger, 1888[1] Azemiops feae - Boulenger, 1888 Azemiops feae - Boulenger, 1896[1] Azemiopinae is a monotypic subfamily created for the monotypic genus, Azemiops, containing the venomous viper species , described here. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Tibet (older spelling Thibet; Tibetan: བོད་; Wylie: Bod; Lhasa dialect IPA: [; Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 西藏, Hanyu Pinyin: XÄ«zàng; also referred to as 藏区 (Simplified Chinese), 藏區 (Traditional Chinese), ZàngqÅ« (Hanyu Pinyin), see Name section below) is a plateau region in Central Asia and the indigenous home to the Tibetan people. ... Guangxi (Zhuang: Gvangjsih; old orthography: ; Simplified Chinese: 广西; Traditional Chinese: 廣西; Pinyin: GuÇŽngxÄ«; Wade-Giles: Kuang-hsi; Postal System Pinyin: Kwangsi), full name Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Zhuang: Gvangjsih Bouxcuengh Swcigih; old orthography: ; Simplified Chinese: 广西壮族自治区; Traditional Chinese: 廣西壯族自治區; Pinyin: GuÇŽngxÄ« Zhuàngzú ZìzhìqÅ«) is a Zhuang autonomous region of... Jiangxi (Chinese: 江西; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chiang-hsi; Postal System Pinyin: Kiangsi) is a southern province of the Peoples Republic of China, spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south. ... Guizhou (Simplified Chinese: &#36149;&#24030;; Traditional Chinese: &#36020;&#24030;; pinyin: Gùizh&#333;u; Wade-Giles: Kuei-chou; also spelled Kweichow) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. ...   (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: SzÅ­4-chuan1; Postal map spelling: Szechwan and Szechuan) is a province in the central-western China with its capital at Chengdu. ...   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; literally south of the clouds) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located in the far southwestern corner of the country. ... Zhejiang (also spelled Chehkiang or Chekiang) is an eastern coastal province of the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Causinae, are a subfamily of venomous vipers commonly known as night adders. ... Edward Drinker Cope Edward Drinker Cope (July 28, 1840–April 12, 1897) was an American paleontologist and comparative anatomist, as well as a noted herpetologist and ichthyologist. ... Year 1859 (MDCCCLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... A political map showing national divisions in relation to deonte Shepard Club Of America Free burgers for new members the ecological break (Sub-Saharan Africa in green) A geographical map of Africa, showing the ecological break that defines the sub-Saharan area Sub-Saharan Africa is the term used to... {{Taxobox[[{| class=wikitable |- ]]</nowiki>]] --> </gallery> |} |}]]| [[Image:[[Media:Failed to parse (unknown error): == <nowiki>#REDIRECT [[<sup><small>[ == == == [[Image:[[Image:[[Media:[[Media:#REDIRECT [[#REDIRECT [[#REDIRECT [[ ---- ---- <math><math><math>[[Media:[[Media: == == == == == == [[[[[[color = pink]]]]]] == == == == == ==]]]] </math></math>]]]]]]]]]]]]]] == == ==]]]</nowiki> ==</math>]]]] | name = Crotalinae | image = TimberRattler. ... Nicolaus Michael Oppel (December 7, 1782–February 16, 1820) was a German naturalist. ... 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Old World consists of those parts of Earth known to Europeans, Asians, and Africans before the voyages of Christopher Columbus; it includes Europe, Asia, and Africa (collectively known as Africa-Eurasia), plus surrounding islands. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... Frontispiece of Peter Martyr dAnghieras De orbe novo (On the New World). Carte dAmérique, Guillaume Delisle, 1722. ... For other uses, see Central America (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Genera Adenorhinos Atheris Azemiops Bitis Cerastes Daboia Echis Eristicophis Macrovipera Montatheris Proatheris Pseudocerastes Vipera This page is about Viper snakes. ... Nicolaus Michael Oppel (December 7, 1782–February 16, 1820) was a German naturalist. ... 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Type specimens When a new species is discovered, more important than creating a new and unique name for the species is developing a reasonably detailed description. ... Synonyms Vipera - Laurenti, 1768 Pelias - Merrem, 1820 Chersea - Fleming, 1822 Rhinaspis - Bonaparte, 1834 Rhinechis - Fitzinger, 1843 Echidnoides - Mauduyt, 1844 Mesocoronis - Reuss, 1927 Teleovipera - Reuss, 1927 Acridophaga - Reuss, 1927 Mesovipera - Reuss, 1927 Mesohoronis - Reuss, 1927 Mesohorinis - Reuss, 1927 Latastea - Reuss, 1929 Tzarevcsya - Reuss, 1929 Latasteopara - Reuss, 1935[1] Common names: Palaearctic... 1768 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Taxonomy

That Viperidae is attributed to Oppel (1811), as opposed to Laurenti (1768) or Gray (1825), is subject to some interpretation. However, the consensus among leading experts is that Laurenti used viperae as the plural of vipera (Latin for "viper", "adder", or "snake") and did not intend for it to indicate a a family group taxon. Rather, it is attributed to Oppel, based on his Viperini as a distinct family group name, despite the fact that Gray was the first to use the form Viperinae.^[1] Look up Plural in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Plural is a grammatical number, typically referring to more than one of the referent in the real world. ...

Cited references

Please note that the ITIS system URL has changed (25 September 2006). ... is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... December 2 is the 336th day of the year (337th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... December 2 is the 336th day of the year (337th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Viperidae

• Family Viperidae at EMBL Reptile Database. Accessed 27 October 2006.
• Family Viperidae at Animal Diversity Web. Accessed 27 October 2006.