| viper | 1. <zoology> Any one of numerous species of Old World venomous makes belonging to Vipera, Clotho, Daboia, and other genera of the family Viperidae. "There came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand." (Acts xxviii. 3) Among the best-known species are the European adder (Pelias berus), the European asp (Vipera aspis), the African horned viper (V. Cerastes), and the Indian viper (Daboia Russellii). 2. A dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person. "Who committed To such a viper his most sacred trust Of secrecy." (Milton) Horned viper. <zoology> A small, slender, phosphorescent deep-sea fish (Chauliodus Sloanii). It has long ventral and dorsal fins, a large mouth, and very long, sharp teeth. <botany> Viper's bugloss, a perennial composite herb (Scorzonera Hispanica) with narrow, entire leaves, and solitary heads of yellow flowers. The long, white, carrot-shaped roots are used for food in Spain and some other countries. Synonym: viper grass. Origin: F. Vipere, L. Vipera, probably contr. Fr. Vivipera; vivus alive + parere to bring forth, because it was believed to be the only serpent that brings forth living young. Cf. Quick, Parent, Viviparous, Wivern, Weever. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| viper venoms | Venoms from snakes of the viperid family. They tend to be less toxic than elapid or hydrophid venoms and act mainly on the vascular system, interfering with coagulation and capillary membrane integrity and are highly cytotoxic. They contain large amounts of several enzymes, other factors, and some toxins. (12 Dec 1998) |
| viperidae | A family of snakes comprising three subfamilies: azemiopinae (the mountain viper, the sole member of this subfamily), viperinae (true vipers), and crotalinae (pit vipers). 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 (haemotoxic) 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) (12 Dec 1998) |
| viperina | <zoology> See Viperoidea. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| viperine | Of or pertaining to a viper or vipers; resembling a viper. Viperine snake. <zoology> Any venomous snake of the family Viperidae. A harmless snake resembling a viper in form or colour, especially. Tropidonotus viperinus, a small European species which resembles the viper in colour. Origin: L. Viperinus: cf. F. Viperin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| viperoides | <zoology> A division of serpents which includes the true vipers of the Old World and the rattlesnakes and moccasin snakes of America. Synonym: Viperina. Origin: NL. See Viper, and -oid. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| russell's viper | A genus of snakes of the family viperidae. It is distributed in west pakistan, most of india, burma, ceylon, thailand, southeast china, taiwan, and a few islands of indonesia. It hisses loudly when disturbed and strikes with great force and speed. Very prolific, it gives birth to 20-60 young. This viper is the leading cause of snakebite in india and burma. (moore: poisonous snakes of the world, 1980, p127) (12 Dec 1998) |
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| Russell's viper venom | A venom used as a coagulant in the arrest of haemorrhage from accessible sites in haemophilia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Russell's viper venom clotting time | A clotting time determination performed on citrated platelet-poor plasma using Russell's viper venom as an activating agent. This allows activation of factor X directly without the need for other coagulation factors and is used to confirm factor X defects. See: Stypven time test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| water viper | <zoology> See Water moccasin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |