Echis hughesi
Echis hughesi is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Somalia.[2] There are no subspecies which are currently recognized as being valid.[5]
Echis hughesi | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Viperidae |
Genus: | Echis |
Species: | E. hughesi |
Binomial name | |
Echis hughesi Cherlin, 1990 | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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Etymology
The specific name, hughesi, is in honor of British herpetologist Barry Hughes.[6]
Description
Echis hughesi grows to a total length (including tail) of about 21–32 cm (8.3–12.6 in). The head scalation is similar to that of E. pyramidum. Midbody, there are 24-25 dorsal scale rows. The ventrals number 144-149, and the subcaudals number 28-30. The color pattern varies, but generally consists of a series of pale, oblique, dorsal blotches set against a darker ground color.[3]
Geographic range
Echis hughesi is found only in northern Somalia, in northern Migiurtinia, near Meledin.
The type locality is listed as "Somalia, 10°02' [N lat.], 49° [E long.]".[2]
Migiurtinia was the name of a region, or gobolka, in Somalia that is currently known as Bari and occupies about 70,000 km2 (27,000 sq mi) of the tip of the Horn of Africa.[7]
References
- Joger U (2010). "Echis hughesi ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ 2018-1. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. http://oldredlist.iucnredlist.org/details/178258/0
- McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G (2003). True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
- Echis hughesi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 August 2007.
- "Echis hughesi ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 1 August 2006.
- Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Echis hughesi, p. 127).
- Regions of Somalia at Statoids.com: Administrative Divisions of Countries. Accessed 2 August 2007.
Further reading
- Cherlin VA (1990). ["A taxonomic revision of the snake genus Echis (Viperidae). II. An analysis of taxonomy and description of new forms"]. [Proc. Zool. Inst. Leningrad ] 207: 193-223. (Echis hughesi, new species). (in Russian).
- 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.
External links
- Echis hughesi Cherlin, 1990 at Tomáš Mazuch. Accessed 24 November 2007.