Organisms

Viperidae

A family of snakes comprising four subfamilies: Azemiopinae (the mountain viper, the sole member of this subfamily), Viperinae (true vipers), Crotalinae (pit vipers) and Causinae. They are widespread throughout the world, being found in the United States, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Their venoms act on the blood (hemotoxic) as compared to the venom of elapids which act on the nervous system (neurotoxic). (Goin, Goin, and Zug, Introduction to Herpetology, 3d ed, pp333-36)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A family of snakes comprising four subfamilies: Azemiopinae (the mountain viper, the sole member of this subfamily), Viperinae (true vipers), Crotalinae (pit vipers) and Causinae. They are widespread throughout the world, being found in the United States, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Their venoms act on the blood (hemotoxic) as compared to the venom of elapids which act on the nervous system (neurotoxic). (Goin, Goin, and Zug, Introduction to Herpetology, 3d ed, pp333-36)

MeSH Record

Classification

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See Also

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Synonyms

9 entry terms
  • Asp
  • Azemiopinae
  • European Adder
  • European Viper
  • Adder, European
  • Asps
  • European Adders
  • European Vipers
  • Viper, European

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

17 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings abnormalities, anatomy & histology, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, classification, embryology, genetics, growth & development, immunology, injuries, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, physiology, surgery, urine, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

94

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Snakes (1968-1993)

MeSH Hierarchy

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AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Viperidae. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D017819. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D017819
  2. Viperidae. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viper
  3. Viperidae. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q163656