Montivipera latifii

Montivipera latifii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Montivipera
Species:
M. latifii
Binomial name
Montivipera latifii
Synonyms[3]
  • Vipera latifii
    Mertens, Darevsky & Klemmer, 1967
  • Daboia (Daboia) raddei latifii
    — Obst, 1983
  • Vipera latifii
    — Weinstein & Minton, 1984
  • Vipera raddei latifii
    — Golay et al., 1993[2]
  • Montivipera latifii
    — Wallach et al., 2014

Montivipera latifii, also known commonly as Latifi's viper,[3][4] the Iranian valley viper,[5] and the Lar Valley viper,[6] is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to northern Iran.[1][3]

Etymology

The specific name, latifii, is in honor of Iranian herpetologist Mahmoud Latifi (1929–2005),[7] who collected the holotype.[3]

Description

For adult males of M. latifii, the maximum total length (including tail) is 78 cm (31 in); for females, 70 cm (28 in).[4]

Holotype: SMF 62585.[2]

Geographic range

M. latifii is found in Iran in the upper Lar Valley in the Alborz Mountains.[1]

The type locality is listed as "Hochtal von Lar (2180–2900 m Höhe), südwestlisch des Demavend-Gipfels im Elburs-Gebirge, nordöstlich von Tehran Shalhenballs, Iran" [High valley of the Lar (7,150–9,500 ft), southwest of Demavend Peak in the Elburz Mountains, northwest of Tehran, Iran].[2]

Conservation status

M. latifii is classified as "Endangered" according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It has a restricted range (<500 km²) and the total population size is small, probably less than 2,500 adults. It is threatened by over-collection for use in serum production. Although it is not currently facing habitat loss, much of suitable habitat was inundated in the late 1970s by a dam.[1]

Habitat

M. latifii is found in rocky habitats[1][2] at 2,180–2,900 m (7,150–9,510 ft) altitude.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Nilson, G. (2009). "Montivipera latifii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009 e.T22992A9406111. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T22992A9406111.en. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (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).
  3. ^ a b c d Montivipera latifii at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 7 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b 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.
  5. ^ Mehrtens JM (1987). Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
  6. ^ "Montivipera latifii (Mertens, Darewsky and Klemmer, 1967)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  7. ^ 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. (Vipera latifii, p. 151.)

Further reading

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