A re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of the Moldavian steppe viper based on immunological investigations, with a discussion of the hypothesis of secondary intergradation between Vipera ursinii rakosiensis and Vipera (ursinii) renardi

The taxonomic level and phylogenetic relationship of the Moldavian steppe viper was investigated using blood serum electrophoresis, immunological comparisons of blood serum albumin and morphological comparisons. The traditional hypothesis that the Moldavian steppe viper is a secondary intergradation between Vipera (ursinii) renardi and V. ursinii rakosiensis could not be verified. Although morphologically similar (but not identical) to these two taxa, it has a closer immunological distance to the Balkan mountain subspecies, V. u. macrops and V. u. graeca. Specific antisera against serum albumins of V. u. graeca, V. u. ursinii (wettsteini) and V. u. eriwanensis were available, and the three vipers to be tested: rakosiensis, renardi and the Moldavian steppe viper branch off from different stems: rakosiensis seems close to ursinii, V. (u.) renardi appears fairly close to eriwanensis, both of which share a common stem with the rakosiensis-ursinii lineage. The Moldavian steppe viper shows high distance to both ursinii and eriwanensis, but low distance to graeca. The electrophoretic pattern show great differences from all other geographic forms tested (seven). We conclude that the Moldavian steppe viper represents a separate subspecies: Vipera ursinii moldavica ssp.n.

Phylogeny and systematics of viperine snakes. III: resurrection of the genus Macrovipera (Reuss, 1927) as suggested by biochemical evidence

The phylogenetic relationships of the large Palaearctic vipers (Daboia sensu Obst, 1983) and Eristicophis were investigated using immunological comparisons of blood serum albumin and blood serum electrophoresis. The genus Echis was used for outgroup comparisons. Daboia was found to be polyphyletic. The name Daboia should be restricted to the type species russelli which was found to have the same immunological distance to the lebetina group as the monophyletic Pseudocerastes-Eristicophis group. The lebetina group was found to consist of the four species lebetina, schweizeri, mauritanica and deserti. For this group the generic name Macrovipera is revalidated. The taxa schweizeri and deserti are treated as full species. Vipera palaestinae was found to be the closest relative of the V. xanthina group. Nomenclatural history and distribution of the involved taxa is reviewed. Descriptions and diagnoses for the genus Macrovipera and the included species are given.