Europe 



only from the rostral : shields of crown much fragmented 

 and usually not symmetrical. 



Color as in the other two species ; zigzag dorsal line 

 prominent and well defined. 



Size about the same as the European viper. 



Distrihutiftn: The Iberian Peninsula and northwest 

 Africa. Found in lowlands and at moderate elevations 

 usually in open .sandy or rocky terrain. 



Remarks: Little known of the venom, but it is not 

 believed to be a particularly dangerous species. 



Long-nosed Viper, Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus). 



Identification: Most readily identified by the snout 

 which terminates in a strongly upturned appendage, its 

 anterior surface formed from several small scales ; crown 



Figure 47. — Long-nosed Viper, Viijcra aiiunodytcs. 

 PlK)to by New York Zoological Society. 



covered by small scales of irregular size and arrange- 

 ment. 



Color ash-gray, yellow, pale orange, coppery or brown- 

 ish ; zig-zag dorsal line very prominent ; pattern more 

 vivid in male; head without distinct dorsal markings; 

 belly yellow or brownish more or less heavily clouded 

 with dark gray ; tail tip orange or reddish. 



Average length 2o to 30 inches ; maximum about 3G 

 inches. Males are larger than females. 



Distribution: Southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. 

 Inhabits dry hilly country for the most part between 

 2,000 and 5,.")00 feet elevation. It prefers rocky slopes 

 I)articularly where there are outcrops of limestone. 



Remarks: Largely nocturnal but may be active by 

 day in cool weather. Sometimes climbs onto bushes 

 to bask in the sun. Rather sedentary and retiring in 

 habits but quick to strike. It is generally thought to 

 be the most dangerous of the European vipers. The 

 venom Is quite toxic and apparently varies considerably 

 in composition over the range of the species. 



Two large vipers just enter European territory, the 

 Ottoman viper {Vipera xa)ithina) near Istanbul and the 



Levantine viper (Vipera lehctina) on some of the 

 eastern Mediterranean islands. ( For descriptions of 

 these species, see page 111 and page 112.) 



CROTALIDAE: Genus Agkisfrodon Beauvois, 1799. 

 ^loccasins and Asian pit vipers. 



Twelve species are recognized. Three of these are in 

 Xorth and Central America ; the others are in Asia, 

 with one species. A. haUjs (Pallas) ranging westward to 

 southeastern Europe. The American copperhead (A. 

 contortrix) and the Eurasian mamushi and its relatives 

 {A. halys) seldom inflict a serious bite, but A. acutus 

 and A. rhodostoma of soutlieastern Asia, as well as the 

 cottonmouth (A. piseivonis) of the southeastern United 

 States are dangerous species. 



Definition: Head broad, flattened, very distinct from 

 narrow neck; a sharply-distinguished canthus. Body 

 cylindrical or depressed, tapered, moderately stout to 

 stout ; tail short to moderately long. 



Eyes moderate in size; pupils vertically elliptical. 



Head scales : The usual 9 on the crown in most 

 species ; internasals and prefrontals broken up into 

 small scales in some Asian forms ; a pointed nasal ap- 

 I)endage in some. Laterally, loreal pit separated from 

 labials or its anterior border formed by second supra- 

 labial. Loreal scale present or absent. 



Body scales: Dorsals smooth (in .4. rhodostoma only) 

 or keeled, with apical pits, in 17-27 nonoblique rows. 

 Ventrals 125-174 ; subeaudals single anteriorly or paired 

 throughout, 21-68. 



Pallas' Viper, Agkistrodon halys (Pallas). 



Identification: The loreal pit distinguishes this spe- 

 cies from all other snakes of Europe and central Asia. 

 Presence of !) large head shields and contact of at least 

 one sui)ralal)ial with the eye. distinguish it from other 

 vipers of that region. The pit and generally viperine 



Figure 48. — Pallas' Viper, Agkistrodon halys interme- 

 dins. Si>ecimen from Uzbek, U. S. S. R. Photo by 

 Sherman A. Minton. (Preserved specimen) 



75 



