Montivipera xanthina


Montivipera 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.

Description

, 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 of 70–95 cm, but reaches a maximum total length of 130 cm on certain Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.

Behavior

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

Habitat

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

Prey

The diet of M. xanthina is thought to consist of rodents and other small mammals and native birds. It may prey on lizards, as well.

Common names

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

Geographic range

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, and islands of the Turkish mainland shelf.
The type locality given is "Xanthus" , and "Asia Minor." Listed as "Xanthos" by Schwarz. Nilson and Andrén restricted the species to "Xanthos" province Mugla, S. W. Turkish Anatolia" through lectotype designation.

Conservation status

This species is classified as least concern according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed as such due to its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.
It is, however, listed as strictly protected under the Berne Convention.

Taxonomy

According to Nilson, Andrén and Flärdh, M. bornmuelleri, M. bulgardaghica, M. wagneri and M. xanthina are all closely related and together form the Montivipera xanthina group or complex.