Meadow Viper

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, Orsini's viper, Ursini's viper, and the meadow adder. It is found in southeast France, the central Apennines in Italy, as well as fragmented areas of eastern Europe. Several subspecies are recognized.

Etymology

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

Description

Adults of Vipera ursini average 40–50 cm (15.75–19.69 inches) in total length (tail included), although specimens of 63–80 cm (24.8–31.5 inches) 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

Common names for Vipera ursinii include meadow viper, Ursini's viper, meadow adder, Orsini's viper, field viper, field adder. 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 distribution

Vipera ursinii is found in southeastern France, eastern Austria (extirpated), Hungary, central Italy, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, northern and northeastern Republic of Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania and Romania.

The species has likely gone extinct in Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine. It is close to extinction in Hungary and a record from southeast Ukraine is questioned.

Vipera ursinii rakosiensis is native to 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.