Protobothrops mangshanensis

{{Speciesbox

| name = Protobothrops mangshanensis

| status = EN

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Zhou, Z. |date=2012 |title=Protobothrops mangshanensis |volume=2012 |page=e.T192140A2046130 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192140A2046130.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}

| status2 = CITES_A2

| status2_system = CITES

| status2_ref = {{Cite web|title=Appendices {{!}} CITES|url=https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php|access-date=2022-01-14|website=cites.org}}

| image = Protobothrops mangshanensis mang pitviper LA zoo top.jpg

| genus = Protobothrops

| species = mangshanensis

| authority = (Zhao, 1990)

| synonyms = *Trimeresurus mangshanensis
Zhao In Zhao & Chen, 1990

Ermia mangshanensis
— Zhang, 1993
Trimeresurus mangshanensis
— McDiarmid, Campbell & Touré, 1999McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. {{ISBN|1-893777-00-6}} (series). {{ISBN|1-893777-01-4}} (volume).
Zhaoermia mangshanensis
— Gumprecht & Tillack, 2004
(nomen novum)
Protobothrops mangshanensis
— Guo et al., 2007
Protobothrops mangshanensis
— Orlov et al., 2009{{NRDB species |genus=Protobothrops |species=mangshanensis |access-date=23 August 2021}}

}}

Protobothrops mangshanensis, commonly known as the Mangshan pit viper, Mt. Mang pit viper, or Mang Mountain pit viper,Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S. 2004. Asian Pitvipers. Geitje Books. Berlin. 1st Edition. 368 pp. {{ISBN|3-937975-00-4}}. is a pit viper species endemic to Hunan and Guangdong provinces in China.

Taxonomy

This species was originally described in the genus Trimeresurus. A new genus, Ermia, named in honor of Chinese herpetologist Zhao Ermi, was erected for the species in 1993.Zhang F.-J. (1993), Division of the genus Trimeresurus (sensu lato) (Serpentes: Viperidae), based on the morphology of their skulls,” in: E.-M. Zhao, B.-H. Chen, and T. J. Papenfuss (eds.), Proc. of the First Asian Herpetol. Meeting, Huangshan, China. Forestry Press. Beijing. pp. 48 – 57. However, by coincidence, this generic name was already in use for a genus of locusts. The new generic name Zhaoermia was therefore proposed as a replacement name for Ermia.Gumprecht A, Tillack F. 2004. Proposal for a replacement name of the snake genus Ermia Zhang, 1993. Russ. J. Herpetol. 11 (1): 73-76. More recently, Guo et al. (2007)Guo, P., A. Malhotra, P.P. Li, C.E. Pook & S. Creer (2007) New evidence on the phylogenetic position of the poorly known Asian pitviper Protobothrops kaulbacki (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) with a redescription of the species and a revision of the genus Protobothrops. Herpetological Journal 17: 237-246. transferred the species to the genus Protobothrops, based on evidence T. mangshanensis is phylogenetically nested within the existing species of that genus. The species is therefore currently known as Protobothrops mangshanensis. No subspecies are currently recognized.

File:Trimeresurus mangshanensis (2).jpg

Description

This is a nocturnal pit viper that is also known as the Mangshan iron-head snake, Chinese pit viper, and the Ironhead viper. The species reaches an adult weight of {{convert|3|-|5|kg|lb}} and a length of up to {{convert|203|cm|ft}}.{{Cite web |url=http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/mangshan_pit_viper/pit_viper.html |title=Mangshan Pit Viper |access-date=2018-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111124617/http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/mangshan_pit_viper/pit_viper.html |archive-date=2018-11-11 |url-status=dead }} They have a white tail tip that they wiggle to mimic a grub so that prey comes into striking range—a behaviour known as caudal luring.

Mangshan vipers eat frogs, birds, insects, and small mammals. The venom causes blood clotting and corrodes muscle tissue and can be fatal to humans if not treated.

It is sometimes claimed that P. mangshanensis "spits" venom, in a manner similar to spitting cobras, but this has been disproven.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lazoo.org/animals/reptiles/mangshan-pit-viper/|title=Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens | Pit Viper, Mangshan}}

Unusually for vipers, P. mangshanensis is oviparous with the female laying clutches of 13–21 eggs which she will guard until they hatch.{{Cite book |last=O'Shea |first=Mark |title=The book of snakes : a life-size guide to six hundred species from around the world |isbn=978-1-78240-559-7 |oclc=1019611756}}

Distribution and habitat

The species is known from the type locality: "Pingkeng, Mangshan (Mt. Mang), Yizhang County, Hunan", as well as from Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County in Guangdong province, both in southern China. This pitviper is found in mountainous regions in southern Hunan and northern Guangdong at elevations of {{convert|800|–|1300|m|abbr=on}} above sea level. Although first discovered in the Mt. Mang mountain range, it is also found in surrounding areas, primarily in subtropical montane forest with thick vegetation and cover. It is often found lying along lichen-covered logs and other structures along animal trails to ambush prey, and can also be found in the numerous limestone caves in the region. Winter temperatures in the region come close to freezing, whilst summer temperatures can reach {{Convert|30|C|F}} or higher.

Conservation status

This species is listed as "Endangered" by the IUCN on the basis that this species has an extent of occurrence and area of occupancy both unlikely to exceed {{cvt|300|km2|mi2}}, it is known from two locations at risk from harvesting for the international pet trade and as a local delicacy, and there is a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals.

References

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