Pseudocerastes persicus fieldi

Common names: Field's horned viper.^[2]

Pseudocerastes persicus fieldi is a venomous viper subspecies^[3] found in the deserts of the Middle East. The main differences between this subspecies and the nominate race are in scalation and venom composition.

Additional recommended knowledge

Guide to balance cleaning: 8 simple steps

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

What is the Correct Way to Check Repeatability in Balances?

Description

Outwardly, P. p. fieldi differs from P. p. persicus only in certain (lower) scale counts:^[4]

Geographic distribution

  According to McDiarmid et al. (1999): the Sinai Peninsula, Israel, Jordan, northern Saudi Arabia, northwestern Iraq and possibly in southern Syria. The type locality given in the original description is "Blair Wells, Transjordania" [Jordan].^[1]

According to Mallow et al. (2003): the Sinai Peninsula, southern Israel, Jordan, extreme northern Saudi Arabia and southwestern Iraq.^[2]

Venom

There is a more pronounced difference between the two subspecies with regard to their venom. While P. p. persicus venom exhibits strong hemorrhagic activity typical of most vipers, the venom of P. p. fieldi is unusual in that contains several fractions that show marked neurotoxic activity. No antivenin is available for bites from either subspecies. It is reported that a polyvalent antiserum does offer some protection from the hemotoxins, but none against the neurotoxic effects of P. p. fieldi venom.^[4][2]

Taxonomy

Some sources elevate P. p. fieldi to species level.^[5]

See also

• List of viperine species and subspecies
• Viperinae by common name
• Viperinae by taxonomic synonyms
• Snakebite

References

Further reading