Viperidae
Nikolsky's Viper
VenomousVipera nikolskii
6 photographs of the Nikolsky's Viper. © Евгения.
The Nikolsky's Viper (Vipera nikolskii) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 4 countries.
If you are bitten
This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
- Family
- Viperidae
- Danger
- high
About the Nikolsky's Viper
Common names: Nikolsky's adder, forest-steppe adder.
Vipera nikolskii is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to Ukraine, eastern Romania, and southwestern Russia. No subspecies are recognized as being valid.
Etymology
The specific name, nikolskii, is in honor of Russian herpetologist Alexander Mikhailovich Nikolsky.
Description
Adults of Vipera nikolskii are short and thick-bodied, growing to a maximum total length (including tail) of 680 mm (27 in).
Holotype: ZDKU 14704, according to Golay et al. (1993).
Geographic distribution
Vipera nikolskii is spread in Central Ukraine and southwestern Russia. Mallow et al. (2003) mention that the distribution is concentrated in the forest-steppe zone of the Kharkiv region in Ukraine.
The type locality, according to Golay et al. (1993), is the banks of the Uda River, between Besljudovka and Vasishtshevo, near Kharkiv.
Also, V. nikolskii was recently found in the eastern and southern part of Romania and Basarabia (Republic of Moldova) by Zinenko et al. (2010) and Strugariu et al. (2008). It recently occurred on a ridge in the Low Tatras, Slovakia.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Nikolsky's Viper
- Is the Nikolsky's Viper venomous?
- Yes. The Nikolsky's Viper (Vipera nikolskii) is venomous and belongs to the Viperidae family (viper). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
- Is the Nikolsky's Viper poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Nikolsky's Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Nikolsky's Viper dangerous?
- This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
- Where does the Nikolsky's Viper live?
- The Nikolsky's Viper has verified records in 4 countries, including Russian Federation, Ukraine, Romania. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Nikolsky's Viper?
- The specific name, nikolskii, is in honor of Russian herpetologist Alexander Mikhailovich Nikolsky.
If you are bitten by the Nikolsky's Viper
Do
- Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
- Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
- Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
- Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
- Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
- Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.
Do not
- Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
- Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
- Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
- Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
- Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.
First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.
Where it is found
More Viperidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
Keep learning
- Are Snakes Dangerous? The Real Risk, in PerspectiveMost snakes are harmless and avoid people. Here is the honest picture of snakebite risk worldwide and how to lower your own.
- Snakebite First Aid: What to Do (and What Never to Do)A clear, CDC-based guide to snakebite first aid: the steps that help, the popular myths that hurt, and how to tell a serious bite from a minor one.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.