Viperidae
Steppe Viper
VenomousVipera renardi
6 photographs of the Steppe Viper. © Георгий Виноградов (Georgy Vinogradov).
The Steppe Viper (Vipera renardi) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 12 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 Steppe Viper
Vipera renardi is a species of viper, a venomous snake in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Asia and Eastern Europe. Five subspecies are recognized.
Etymology
The specific name, renardi, is in honor of Russian naturalist Charles Renard (1809—1886), also known as Karl Renard.
The subspecific names, bashkirovi and puzanovi, are in honor of Russian zoologists Ivan Sergeyevich Bashkirov (1900–1980) and Ivan Ivanovich Puzanov (1885–1971), respectively.
Geographic range
V. renardi is found in China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Habitat
The natural habitats of V. renardi are shrubland, grassland, and rocky areas, at altitudes of 0–2,500 m (0–8,202 ft).
Reproduction
V. renardi is ovoviviparous.
Subspecies
Five subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Vipera renardi bashkirovi Garanin, Pavlov & Bakiev, 2004
Vipera renardi parursinii Nilson & Andrén, 2001
Vipera renardi puzanovi Kukuskin, 2009
Vipera renardi renardi (Christoph, 1861)
Vipera renardi tienshanica Nilson & Andrén, 2001
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Vipera.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Steppe Viper
- Is the Steppe Viper venomous?
- Yes. The Steppe Viper (Vipera renardi) 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 Steppe Viper poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Steppe Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Steppe 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 Steppe Viper live?
- The Steppe Viper has verified records in 12 countries, including Ukraine, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Steppe Viper?
- The specific name, renardi, is in honor of Russian naturalist Charles Renard (1809—1886), also known as Karl Renard. The subspecific names, bashkirovi and puzanovi, are in honor of Russian zoologists Ivan Sergeyevich Bashkirov (1900–1980) and Ivan Ivanovich Puzanov (1885–1971), respectively.
If you are bitten by the Steppe 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.