Vipera xanthina

Vipera xanthina
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Viperinae
Genus:	Vipera
Species:	V. xanthina
Binomial name
Vipera xanthina (Gray, 1849)
Synonyms
Daboia Xanthina Gray, 1849 Vipera xanthina — Strauch, 1869 Vipera lebetina var. xanthina — F. Werner, 1902 Vipera xanthina xanthina — Mertens, 1952 Daboia (Daboia) xanthina — Obst, 1983 Daboia (Vipera) xanthina — Radspieler & Schweiger, 1990 Vipera xanthina — Nilson, Andrén & Flärdh, 1990 V[ipera]. xanthina xanthina — González, 1991 Montivipera xanthina — Nilson et al., 1999

Vipera xanthina is a venomous viper species found in northeastern Greece and Turkey, as well as certain islands in the Aegean Sea. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Dorsally, it is grey or white with a black zig-zag stripe. Melanistic individuals exist. It has keeled dorsal scales.

It usually grows to a total length (body + tail) of 70–95 cm (27.6-37.4 in), but reaches a maximum total length of 130 cm (51.2 in) on certain Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.

Very aggressive, will strike without provoking, and most bites will inject venom

Vipera xanthina can be found living in humid areas. It favors rocky and "well-vegetated" areas for its habitats.

The diet of Vipera xanthina is thought to consist of rodents and other small mammals and native birds. It has also been speculated that they prey on lizards as well.

Rock viper, coastal viper, Ottoman viper, Turkish viper, Near East viper, mountain viper.

Extreme northeastern Greece, the Greek islands of Simi, Skiathos, Kos, Kalimnos, Samothraki, Leros, Lipsos, Patmos, Samos, Chios and Lesbos, European Turkey, the western half of Anatolia (inland eastward to Kayseri), and islands (e.g. Chalki, Kastellórizon [Meis Adasi]) of the Turkish mainland shelf.

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Wikipedia