Figure
(4) Daboia palaestinae (Werner,
1938)

Common name: Palestine Viper
Diagnosis. Head triangular, distinct from neck and covered by
small scales. In contrast to other Jordanian viperids, there is a single large plate on
top of each eye. Supraocular
intact and bordering eye. Two scale rows between eye and upper labials. Upper labials, 9-11.
Lower labials, 12-14. 24 or 25 midbody scale
rows,
l60-l66 ventral scales, 35-44 subcaudals. Anal undivided. Body stout and tail tapers abruptly
behind cloaca. Largest Daboia species
(both sexes up to 130 cm). Colouration: Ground
colour grey to ochre, with a series of light brown, oval spots with lighter centers and pale edges; the spots may be fused to form a zigzag band. Top of the
head has two V-shaped, brown occipital bands with dark edges in front of which
is one large, round brown patch. Side of head with yellow markings in adults
(Amr and Disi, 2011).
Habitats and ecology. The Palestine viper is associated
with oak and pine forested areas. Some
remnant populations still existing in deforested mountains as in Al Karak
Governorate. Nowadays it occurs in rocky
hillsides, plantations, animal farms and near human settlements. This viper is a nocturnal species. It climbs trees looking for fledging
birds or to ambush arboreal reptiles and mammals. There is
a considerable increase in the number of this viper in the Jordan Valley
in correlation with the expansion of cultivated land and irrigated citrus and
banana farms, which in turn has created an
abundance of small rodents, especially mice and rats. Also, these places
offer humid oviposition sites and the moisture needed by this viper to drink (Amr and Disi, 2011).