Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

Employees of ANAS Institute of Zoology Laboratory of Herpetology carried out researches on the herpetofauna in Guba-Khachmaz zone.

As a result of studies a new kind of snake (Pelias lotiyev - a triangle-shaped head) family of Vipers (Viperidae) has been discovered on the mountainous areas of the Greater Caucasus in Azerbaijan.

The species of this family are common in the North Caucasus and the areal covers the territory from the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus (near Sochi) until Xerophytic upland areas stretching up to the Dagestan-Azerbaijan border. Finding confirms that, Pelias lotiyev - a triangle-shaped head family of Vipers (Viperidae) is widespread in northern slopes of Greater Caucasus of Azerbaijan. While this species was found in subalpine mountain areas located at an altitude of 1900-2300 meters above sea level, only in Azerbaijan within the Guba region (near the village of Khinalig).

Currently, is planned to study distribution of this species in vertical and horizontal directions.

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