Ursini's Viper

:''Common names: meadow viper, Ursini's viper, Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G (2003). ''True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers''. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. . meadow adder,Brown, John Haynes (1973). ''Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes''. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. . ( more).''

''Vipera ursinii'' is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. It is a very rare species, which is in danger of extinction. This species is commonly called the meadow viper. It is found in France, Italy, and Greece as well as much of eastern Europe. Several subspecies are recognized. Beyond the highly threatened European population, poorly known populations exist as far to the east as Kazakhstan and northwestern China.

Etymology

The specific name or epithet, ''ursinii'', is in honor of Italian naturalist Antonio Orsini (1788–1870).

Description

Adults of ''V. ursini'' average in total length (including tail), although specimens of in total length have been reported. Females are larger than males. Although sometimes confused with '' V. aspis'' or '' V. berus'', it differs from them in the following characters. The smallest viper in Europe, its body is thick, its head narrow, and its appearance rough. The snout is not upturned. There are always several large scales or plates on the top of the head. The prominently keeled dorsal scales are in only 19 rows, and often dark skin shows between them. It is gray, tan, or yellowish with a dark undulating dorsal stripe, which is edged with black.

Common names

Meadow viper, Ursini's viper, meadow adder, Orsini's viper, field viper, Steward JW (1971). ''The Snakes of Europe''. Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Press (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press). . field adder. Hellmich W (1962). ''Reptiles and Amphibians of Europe''. London: Blandford Press. ''Translated from'' Winter C (1956). ''Die Lurche und Kriechtiere Europas''. Heidelberg, Germany: Universitatsverlag, gegr. 1822, GmbH. Although the following subspecies are currently invalid according to the taxonomy used here, their common names may still be encountered:

* ''V. u. ursinii'' – Italian meadow viper.
* ''V. u. macrops'' – karst viper, karst adder.
* ''V. u. rakosiensis'' – Danubian meadow viper.
* ''V. renardi'' – steppe viper, steppe adder, Renard's viper.
* ''V. u. moldavica'' – Moldavian meadow viper.

Geographic range

Southeastern France, eastern Austria (extinct), Hungary, central Italy, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, northern and northeastern Republic of Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, Romania, northern Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, northwestern Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia and across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and eastern Uzbekistan steppes to China (Xinjiang).

''Vipera ursinii rakosiensis'' is native to HungaryLeírás
Fertő-Hanság Nemzeti Park (Fertő-Hansag National Park of Hungary) although the taxonomic status of this subspecies is disputed (see section "Taxonomy")

The type locality is " ...''monti dell'Abruzzo prossimi alla provincia d'Ascoli''... " (...mountains of Abruzzo near the Province of Ascoli Piceno, Italy...).

Conservation status

The species ''Vipera ursinii'' is considered to be a Vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, due to habitat destruction caused by changes in agricultural practices and climate change in mountain areas, and to collection for the pet trade.

In addition, this species is listed on CITES Appendix I, which prohibits commercial international trade,''Vipera ursinii''
a
CITES
an
United Nations Environment Programme / World Conservation Monitoring Centre
Accessed 8 October 2006. and is a strictly protected species (Appendix II) under the Berne Convention.Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Appendix II
a
Council of Europe
Accessed 9 October 2006.

''V. ursinii'' is the most threatened snake in Europe. At least 12 human activities are threatening these animals:
1. Grazing
2. Mowing
3. Fire
4. Agriculture
5. Roads
6. Constructions
7. Leisure Activities
8. Afforestation
9. Cynegetic species management
10. Persecution
11. Illegal collection
12. Littering

Taxonomy

There is high genetic diversity within samples of ''Vipera ursinii'' and several species may be involved. At least six subspecies may be encountered in modern literature:

* ''Vipera ursinii ursinii'' ( Bonaparte, 1835)
* ''Vipera ursinii eriwanensis'' ( A.F. Reuss, 1933)
* ''Vipera ursinii graeca'' Nilson & Andrén, 1988
* ''Vipera ursinii macrops'' Méhelÿ, 1911
* ''Vipera ursinii moldavica'' Nilson, Andrén & Joger, 1993
* ''Vipera ursinii rakosiensis'' Méhely, 1893
* ''Vipera ursinii renardi'' Christoph, 1861

Golay et al. (1993) recognize the first four, while Mallow et al. (2003) recognize five and list ''V. eriwanensis'' and ''V. renardi'' as valid species. However, McDiarmid et al. (1999), and thus ITIS, feel that more definitive data is necessary before any subspecies can be recognized.

Notes

References

Further reading

* Golay P, Smith HM, Broadley DG, Dixon JR, McCarthy CJ, Rage J-C, Schätti B, Toriba M (1993). ''Endoglyphs and Other Major Venomous Snakes of the World: A Checklist''. Geneva: Azemiops.
* Latifi M (1991). ''The Snakes of Iran''. Oxford, Ohio: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. . (''Vipera ursinii'', p. 133.)

External links

*
Meadow viper (''Vipera ursinii '')
a
ARKive
Accessed 5 October 2006.

a
Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe
Accessed 9 October 2006.

at ttps://web.archive.org/web/20070808155828/http://www.reptilia-amphibia.net/ Reptiles & Amphibians of France Accessed 30 October 2006.
*
''Vipera eriwanensis''
a

Accessed 30 March 2007.

{{Authority control

ursinii
Reptiles of Europe
Reptiles of Central Asia
Reptiles of Azerbaijan
Reptiles described in 1835
Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte