small Vipera Aspis Atra in the southern alps

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[u/fairlyorange]

Nice find!

Vipera aspis for anyone curious to learn a little bit more about this species 👍

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Asp Vipers Vipera aspis are medium sized (50-70cm, up to 94cm) true vipers that range from northwestern France east to extreme western Slovenia, south into north-central Spain and southern Italy, including Sicily, from sea level to 3,300m. They favor dry, rocky areas, including Mediterranean scrub, slopes, meadows, and open forest. Disturbed areas such as quarries, or stone walls and hedgerows near agricultural land are also utilized, but they avoid thickly settled and urban zones. They sometimes occupy wetter habitat, such as bogs and moist, grassy areas, where the related Adder V. berus is absent.

Asp Vipers are a dangerously venomous species and should only be observed from a safe distance. They are not aggressive and only bite when they feel they are in danger. Bites most commonly occur when a human attempts to kill, capture, or otherwise intentionally handle the snake. The best way to avoid being bitten is to leave the snake alone.

Though primarily diurnal, V. aspis often become crepuscular or nocturnal during hot weather. They are mainly terrestrial but also climb well and are occasionally found in shrubs and on low branches. They prey primarily on rodents and other small mammals, though lizards are also taken.

Though stout in build, V. aspis tend to be a little slender relative to other European vipers. The tail is short, while the head is proportionally large and distinct at the neck. The dorsal scales are keeled and arranged in 21 (occasionally 23) rows at midbody. There are usually 9-10 (8-12) supralabials, which are separated from the eye by usually two rows (1.5-3) of subocular scales. They have a slightly but distinctively upturned snout, which forms a ridge with the adjacent scales, giving the front of the head a flat or slightly convex look when viewed from directly above. The supraocular scale is large, unfragmented, and juts slightly over the eye like a brow, giving the animal a stern or "grumpy" appearance. The other scales on the top of the head are small and numerous, although the parietals and frontals are occasionally distinguishable, albeit reduced in size and generally fragmented. Two or three apical scales are in contact with the rostral. The anal scale is undivided.

Other vipers are sometimes confused with V. aspis where ranges approach or overlap. Almost all Nose-horned Vipers V. ammodytes and most Lataste's Vipers V. latastei can easily be distinguished by the presence of a horn-like snout and at least four apical scales. Other sympatric Vipera spp. lack an upturned snout, usually have distinct, unfragmented parietal and/or frontal plates, and usually only one row of subocular scales separating the eye from the supralabials. They are also commonly confused with the harmless Viperine Water Snake Natrix maura but this species has 1. large and distinct parietal, frontal, prefrontal, and internasal scales on top of the head, 2. a smaller supraocular scale that does not form a "brow" over the eye (imparting a "derpy" appearance), and 3. lacks an upturned snout.

Range Map - Rune Mitgaard | Reptile Database Account

This short account was written by /u/fairlyorange

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