Moorish viper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moorish viper
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Daboia
Species:	mauritanica
Synonyms
Echidna mauritanica - Duméril & Bibron, 1848 Clotho ? mauritanica - Gray, 1849 Vipera minuta - Eichwald, 1851 Bitis mauritanica - Günther, 1858 Vipera confluenta - Cope, 1863 Vipera mauritanica - Strauch, 1869 Vipera euphratica var. mauritanica - Boettger, 1883 Vipera lebetina - Boulenger, 1896 Vipera lebetina mauritanica - Schwartz, 1936 Daboia (Daboia) lebetina mauritanica - Obst, 1983 Macrovipera mauritanica - Herrmann, Joger & Nilson, 1992

The Moorish viper (Daboia mauritanica or Macrovipera mauritanica; common names: Moorish viper, Sahara rock viper, Atlas blunt-nosed viper, more) is a venomous viper species found in northwestern Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Description

Reaches a maximum length of 180 cm.

Common names

Moorish viper, Sahara rock viper, Atlas blunt-nosed viper, Atlas adder, mountain adder.

Geographic range

Northwestern Africa: Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The type locality is "Algiers", according to Gray (1842), "Algeria" according to Schwarz (1936). Limited to the coastal regions of Algeria. Coastal records from Tunisia may refer to M. deserti.

Conservation status

This species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001). Classified as such because this species is likely in significant decline (but at a rate of less than 30% over ten years) due to persecution, accidental mortality and over-harvesting, therefore making it close to qualifying for Vulnerable. The population trend is down. Year assessed: 2005.

Taxonomy

Based on molecular evidence, Lenk et al. (2001) suggested that this species, along with M. deserti, should rather be included in the genus Daboia.