Iran is a country in West Asia. It is bordered to the west by Iraq and Turkey, to the northwest by Azerbaijan and Armenia, to the north by the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan, and to the south by the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. Iran covers an area of 1,648,195 km2, making it the fourth largest country in all of Asia and the second largest in West Asia. It has a population of 85 million. 
Iran’s wildlife includes bears, Eurasian lynx, fox, gazelle, gray wolves, jackals, panthers, and wild boars. Domestic animals include Asian water buffalo, camel, cow, donkey, goat, horse, and sheep. Eagles, falcons, partridges, pheasants, and storks are also native to Iran. One of the most popular animal species is the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah, also known as the Iranian cheetah, whose number decreased drastically after the 1979 Revolution. The Persian leopard, which is the largest leopard subspecies in the world and lives mainly in northern Iran., it is also in danger of extinction. Iran lost all of its Asiatic lions and the now extinct Caspian tiger in the early 20th century. At least 74 species of Iranian wildlife are on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a sign of a serious threat to the country’s biodiversity. Iran’s parliament has shown contempt for wildlife by passing laws and regulations, such as the law allowing the Ministry of Industries and Mines to mine without the involvement of the Environment Department, and by approving large national development projects without the need for a comprehensive study of its impact. in wildlife habitats. 
Persian horn viper venom
Blood coagulation caused by the venom of the Iranian saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus): identification, purification and characterization of a prothrombin activator. Purpose (s): Echis carinatus is one of the venomous snakes of Iran. Iranian Echis carinatus venom is a rich source of protein with various factors affecting plasma protein and blood coagulation factor. Some of these proteins exhibit types of enzymatic activity. However, the other elements are proteins with no enzymatic activity. Materials and Methods: To study the mechanism and effect of toxin on human plasma proteins, this study examined the effect of crude venom and all its fractions. A procoagulant factor (prothrombin activator) was isolated from Iranian snake venom Echis carinatus with a combination of gel filtration (Sephadex G-75), ion-exchange chromatography (DEAE-Sepharose), and reverse-phase HPLC. In addition, the proteolytic activity of crude venom and all fractions in blood coagulation factors, such as prothrombin time (PT), were studied. Results: In the present study, the PT test was reduced from 13.4 s to 8.6 s when human plasma was treated with crude venom (toxin concentration was 1 mg/mL). The purified procoagulant factor revealed a single protein band in SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis under reducing conditions and its molecular weight was estimated to be approximately 65 kDa. A single-band protein showed fragment patterns similar to those formed by group A prothrombin activators, which convert prothrombin to meizothrombin separately from the prothrombinase complex. Conclusions: This study showed that the fraction isolated from the venom of the Iranian snake Echis carinatus may be a prothrombin activator. It can be concluded that this component is a procoagulant factor. 
Spider-tailed Horned Viper Evolution
The species, Pseudocerastes urarachnoides, endemic to Iran, has evolved to form a bulbous and elongated subcaudal (bottom) scales at the tip of the tail that come together to resemble a spider, common prey of birds in the region. The amazing spider-tailed viper: I previously wrote a post about the spider-tailed viper (Pseudocerastes urarachnoides), an amazing snake with a strange and deceptive spider-like tail. It was discovered in 1968 in Iran, but described as a new species only in 2006, where the authors thought the appendage could be used to attract prey. Below is an image of the snake’s “caudal appendage” taken from the aptly named Life Is Short but Snakes Are Long (LISBSAL) website, which also illustrates the developmental basis of this structure: The structure of the [appendix], formed by the last pair of highly enlarged subcaudal scales and a single enlarged dorsal scale. The elongated parts altered the lateral scales. X-rays taken by the team showed that the caudal vertebrae were stretching well into this structure and were not altered or altered. So, what we have here, as we almost always do with new evolutionary structures, is simply modifying an old structure in a novel way. One might think that mutations that affect the hind scales, making them larger and more spider -like, could provide a reproductive advantage (more food!) To the mutant snake. Other mutations will make the lure more spidery and more attractive to the victim. And perhaps tail wagging is already in place, though it was certainly done after this structure began to evolve. As I pointed out in my previous post, this appendage may work to scare off predators, but the way the snake shakes the appendage suggests that it is a deceptive lure to lure the prey into they think they will eat a juicy spider. Here is a video of the lures waving: 
Pseudocerastes urarachnoides
Snakes of the genera Pseudocerastes and Eristicophis (Viperidae: Viperinae) are known as desert pit vipers because of their association with the arid environment of the Middle East. These species have received limited research attention, and little is known about their venom or ecology. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of desert pit viper venoms was performed by visualizing venom proteomes by gel electrophoresis and evaluating crude venoms for their cytotoxic, hemotoxic, and neurotoxic properties. characteristic. Plasmas from humans, frogs, and chickens were used as models to assess potential venom activity associated with the victim. Toxins showed a large variation in composition and bioactivity across all experiments. Pseudocerastes urarachnoides venom activated human coagulation factor X and prothrombin and showed potent procoagulant activity in human, frog, and chicken plasma, in striking contrast to the potent neurotoxic venom of P. fieldi. E. macmahonii venom also induces coagulation, although it does not appear to be through activation of factor X or prothrombin. The coagulating properties of P. fieldi and P. persicus venoms varied between plasmas, showing strong anticoagulant activity in amphibian and human plasmas, but no significant effect on avian plasma. 
It is conjectured that this reflects victim-specific toxic activity, although further ecological studies are needed to confirm any dietary associations. This study reinforces the notion that the phylogenetic relationship of snakes does not easily predict the composition or function of venom protein. The significant variability of venom between these species raises serious concerns about the paraspecificity of the antivenom. Future evaluation of antivenom is important. Snake bite poisoning kills or weakens hundreds of thousands of people each year [1]. To address the global health crisis, a better understanding of the evolution, biology, ecology, venom, and poisoning statistics of medically essential snakes is essential. Despite this, there are still many knowledge gaps surrounding many venomous species. These gaps are particularly relevant in developing regions such as the Middle East, which are subject to prolonged periods of political instability and ongoing tension. Data deficient characteristics of the Middle Eastern herpetofauna literature have been demonstrated by the relatively recent description of the third species of viperid snake in the genus Pseudocerastes (Boulenger, 1896), the spider-tailed viper Pseudocerastes urarachnoides (Viperidae: Viperinae) (Bostanchi, Anderson, Kami, and Papenfuss, 2006) from western Iran. 
Spider-tailed Horned Viper for sale
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has proposed banning the illegal trade in the spider-tailed horned viper, a unique species of viper endemic to western Iran that is being pushed towards extinction by poaching, Reported of ISNA on Tuesday. The spider-tailed horned viper discovered in 2006 has a strange tail with a bulbous tip that resembles a spider, which is used to attract insectivorous birds to the attacking range. Because of their unusual appearance, many amphibian collectors are interested in buying them because their rare population cannot withstand poaching, said Reza Faraji, director of CITES’s Iran office. The illegal trade of rare species is bringing its fragile population to the brink of extinction, many illegal traffickers are taking them despite damage to important species, he said, lamenting that one of them was taken while smuggled into Germany. There are no specific population statistics of the spider-tailed horned viper because accurate studies have not been conducted to determine the number of species, he lamented, adding that it is observed in Ilam province and is also found in the provinces. of Kermanshah and Kermanshah. Lorestan. He further expressed hope that locals will fight the illegal trade in valued species, be vigilant and oppose proposals for the sale of spider-tailed horned viper and mentioned that locals should inform the Department of the Environment (DOE) in case they determine. 
Regional violations following the CITES mission designed to protect endangered species from illegal trade and based on the international demand for such illegal trade, the CITES office in Iran intends to submit a proposal to the Convention Secretariat to add the spider-tailed horned viper at the Convention. list. and thus prevent its illegal trade, he explained. He further said that the proposal will be reviewed and approved at the next CITES conference to be held from May 23 to June 3 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. However, we have tried to attract the attention of effective NGOs and international associations in this matter, he said. He also added that so far, the Viper Specialist Group SSC of the International Union for Conservation of Nature has supported the proposal to ban trade in this rare species. In addition to international support, national protection is needed, as DOE efforts, the spider-tailed horned viper was declared endangered in November 2021. 
What is the female Viper called
viper, (family Viperidae), any of more than 200 species of venomous snakes belonging to two groups: pit viper (subfamily Crotalinae) and Old World vipers (subfamily Viperinae), considered by some authorities to be separate families. They feed small animals and hunt by beating and poisoning their prey. Adders are characterized by a pair of long, hollow venom-injecting fangs attached to the movable upper jaw bones (the maxillae) that fold back into the mouth when not in use. Their eyes have vertical pupils and their scales are keel. Adders range in length from less than 25 cm (10 in) in the Namaqua dwarf viper (Bitis schneideri) of southern Africa to more than 3 meters (10 ft) in the bushmaster (Lachesis muta) of the Amazon basin and in the Americas.. Adders can be found from the desert to the rain forest, mainly in the New World. This group includes copperheads, rattlesnakes, and fer-de-lances (bothrops and Trimeresurus genera), among others. They can be terrestrial or arboreal. Some, such as moccasins (genus Agkistrodon), are aquatic. With the exception of the laying bushmaster, all cobras are life carriers (viviparous). 
Iranian Spider-tailed Viper Venom
Photo of spider-tailed viper taken in western Iran Photo of spider-tailed viper taken in western Iran Kermanshah, Jul 11 IRNA-Iran’s endemic spider-tailed viper was spotted in the western county of Gilan-e Gharb while its photo was also taken, an environmental official said on Saturday. Fereydoon Yavari, Secretary General of the Kermanshah Department of Environment, made the statements while speaking to IRNA. Environmental experts recorded a photo of the spider-tailed viper, a rare special snake of this type, the official added. The spider-tailed viper has already been identified in this region, but this time experts can pick up and record its picture in the west of the country, Yavari said. The spider-tailed viper was first identified in western Iran in 2006, and there are no reports of this type of species recorded anywhere in the world. The cobra first moves its tail as if moving, then it chases any kind of animal that wants to attack the so -called spider. The concept of homology gives researchers a powerful tool for interpreting evolutionary changes; however, novel phenotypes (morphology, behavior) without clear homologues present unique problems. These special cases often have ambiguous adaptive histories, and evolutionary scenarios that refer only to their current function (s) may miss important stages of evolution. Fortunately, in these situations, integrated comparison methods often provide information on possible emerging conditions. The rattlesnake has long been one of the evolutionary conundrums due to the fact that its structural and functional uniqueness limits the usefulness of homology. 
Consequently, its evolutionary origin and function have become the subject of speculation and debate. Advances in our understanding of the origin of the rattle have unfortunately been hampered by a rapidly reached consensus in the literature in favor of the more parsimonious hypothesis about the origin of the rattle. According to this view, the rattlesnake is believed to have originated in a strictly defensive context (aposematic function) and then evolved under the adaptive influence of an ongoing defensive function. On close inspection, this hypothesis does not convincingly respond to choice acting in the early stages of the rattlesnake and does not respond to adaptive history of style, matrix, specialized tail muscle anatomy/physiology, and behavior. Here, we address some claims in the literature about the evolution of the rattle. Our aim is to contribute arguments against dubious claims in order to a) advance a more modern and nuanced approach to studying the origin and evolution of the rattle as an integrated organ system; and b) synthesize the available evidence on the origin of this unique structure into a theoretical framework that eliminates explanatory gaps in the early stages of evolution.
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