Types of vipers

Macrovipera is a small genus in the family Viperidae, the true vipers. Like all true vipers it has long, hinged front fangs that fold against the roof of the mouth and swing forward to inject venom when the snake strikes. The genus is set apart by sheer size and bulk: these are among the largest vipers of the western Palearctic, thick-bodied snakes with broad, somewhat triangular heads distinct from the neck. The two members recognized in our database are the Levantine viper (Macrovipera lebetinus) and Razi's viper (Macrovipera razii), the latter described from Iran, which sits at the edge of this group of large Old World vipers.

The genus is centered on the eastern Mediterranean and the arid belt running from North Africa and the Levant through Anatolia, the Caucasus, and into Central Asia. Typical habitat is dry and rocky: open scrub, stony hillsides, semi-desert, vineyards, and field margins, often near water or human activity where rodent prey is plentiful. In general terms you recognize these snakes by their large size and stout build, keeled scales that give a dull, matte look, and a muted ground color in grays, browns, or olive marked with darker blotches or a broken zigzag. Coloration and pattern vary widely across the range, so size and head shape are more reliable cues than markings, and any large heavy viper in this region should be treated as one of these.

These snakes are venomous and medically serious; the Levantine viper is responsible for severe and sometimes fatal bites across its range, so never handle or approach a wild one and give it distance. Their venom acts mainly on blood and tissue, causing pain, swelling, bleeding, and clotting problems. If a bite occurs, keep the person calm and still, do not cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet, and get to emergency medical care immediately, since antivenom may be needed; in the United States contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, and elsewhere call local emergency services. Ecologically they are ambush hunters that feed largely on rodents, birds, and lizards, helping control pest populations; Macrovipera typically lay eggs rather than bearing live young, and they are most active in the warmer months, often at dusk or night to avoid the heat.