Viper

For other uses, see Viper (disambiguation).

Viper
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Clade: Colubroides
Family: Viperidae
Oppel, 1811
Synonyms[1]
  • Viperae Laurenti, 1768
  • Viperini Oppel, 1811
  • Viperidae Gray, 1825

Vipers are snakes in the family Viperidae, found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia,[2] Hawaii, Madagascar, New Zealand, Ireland, and various other isolated islands. They are venomous and have long (relative to non-vipers), hinged fangs that permit deep penetration and injection of their venom.[3] Three subfamilies are currently recognized.[4] They are also known as viperids. The name "viper" is derived from the Latin word vipera, -ae, also meaning viper, possibly from vivus ("living") and parere ("to beget"), referring to the trait viviparity (giving live birth) common in vipers like most of the species of Boidae.[5]

  1. ^ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. ^ Fender-Barnett, Arli (27 May 2019). "Are Australian snakes really the most dangerous in the world?". CSIRO. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Yes, we have some scary snakes in Australia but none are close to what's happening in tropical parts of Asia, Africa and South America – they have a group of snakes called Vipers (which we don't have, phew!).
  3. ^ "Viperids". Snakesuntamed.webr.ly. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Viperidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 10 August 2006.
  5. ^ Gotch AF. 1986. Reptiles – Their Latin Names Explained. Poole, UK: Blandford Press. 176 pp. ISBN 0-7137-1704-1.