Mixcoatlus barbouri
Mixcoatlus barbouri is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]
| Mixcoatlus barbouri | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Mixcoatlus |
| Species: | M. barbouri |
| Binomial name | |
| Mixcoatlus barbouri (Dunn, 1919) | |
| Synonyms | |
Etymology
The specific name, barbouri, is in honor of American herpetologist Thomas Barbour.[7]
Description
Adults of M. barbouri generally grow to 30–40 cm (11¾-15¾ inches) in total length (including tail), with a maximum recorded total length of 51.0 cm (20 in). The species is terrestrial and moderately stout.[5]
The color pattern consists of a blackish ground color, overlaid with a vague dorsal zig-zag stripe that extends down the flanks, which looks like a series of triangular markings. The skin between the scales is rust-colored, as are the sides of the head.[6]
Geographic range
Mixcoatlus barbouri is found in the highlands of the Sierra Madre del Sur in the state of Guerrero, Mexico.
The type locality given is "Omilteme [or Omiltemi], Guerrero, Mexico".[2]
Habitat
The preferred habitats of M. barbouri are mountain areas at some 9,000 feet (2,740 m) elevation in rocky pine forests and clearings with bunch grass.[6]
Conservation status
The species M. barbouri is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: B1ab(iii) (v3.1, 2001).[1] A species is listed as such when the best available evidence indicates that the geographic range, in the form of extent of occurrence, is estimated to be less than 5,000 km² (1,930 mi²), estimates indicate the population is severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than five locations, and a continuing decline has been observed, inferred or projected in the area, extent and/or quality of habitat. It is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. The population trend is down. Year assessed: 2007.[8]
References
- Canseco-Márquez L.; Campbell J.A.; Ponce-Campos P.; Muñoz-Alonso A. & García Aguayo A. (2007). "Mixcoatlus barbouri". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2007: e.T64305A12761692. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64305A12761692.en. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- 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).
- Mixcoatlus barbouri at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 13 December 2014.
- Jadin RC, Smith EN, Campbell JA (2011). "Unraveling a tangle of Mexican serpents: a systematic revision of highland pitvipers". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 163 (3): 949–951. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00748.x.
- Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. 2 volumes. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. 870 pp., 1,500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
- Mehrtens JM (1987). Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
- Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Cerrophidion barbouri, p. 16).
- 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 14 September 2007.
Further reading
- Dunn ER (1919). "Two New Crotaline Snakes from Western Mexico". Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 32: 213-216. (Lachesis barbouri, new species, pp. 213–214).