Thermal biology of the Central Asian blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera lebetina turanica) from Nuratau Crest and the Chernov blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera lebetina černovi) from Western Kysylkum

Abstract

The ecology of the Central Asian blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera lebetina turanica) inhabiting the Nuratau Crest of Uzbekistan is described. The temperature conditions of the environment and the spatialtemporal structure of the viper activity are represented, which made it possible to find some of thermobiological characteristics. The temperature diapason of full activity of this viper constitutes approximately 17–34°C. The temperature of thermostabilization is in the range of 26–31°C, nocturnal temperatures are elevated from 9–15°C to 18–23°C in spring and summer, respectively, and diurnal body temperatures are decreased from 18–22°C to 10–15°C. Feeding and digestion are normal in blunt-nosed vipers at 25°C, which is below the diurnal temperature variation. In spring, the light phase duration is rapidly increased from 3–6 h to 14 h or more. This length of time and the large diurnal variation in the body temperature from 18°C to 20–22°C facilitate active and efficient coupling. Later, the diurnal body temperature is decreased to 13–18°C, which facilitates successful recovery in males and pregnancy in females. Plots for the average viper body temperature in different seasons are represented. The thermobiological characteristics of the bluntnosed viper of Macrovipera lebetina ěrnovi are similar to M. l. turanica.