44 VENOMS 



(1) Vipera renardi. — Eesembles F. berus, but the snout is 

 pointed and soft, with a turned-up tip ; a single series of scales 

 between the eyes and the lips ; nostril pierced in the lower half 

 of a single nasal shield ; 8 — 9 supralabial shields ; 4 infralabials. 

 Body scales in 21 rows ; 130 — 150 ventrals ; 24 — 37 subcaudals. 



Coloration the same as in the European V. ursinii, but the 

 snout and lips are spotted with black or brown. 

 Total length, 395—620 millimetres ; tail 40—75. 

 Habitat : Central Asia, Turkestan. 



(2) V. raddii. — Snout rounded ; supraocular shields erectile ; 

 eyes surrounded by a complete circle of 14 — 17 scales ; 9 — 10 

 supralabials ; body scales in 23 rows ; 150 — 180 ventrals ; 23 — 32 

 subcaudals. 



Coloration pale brown or grey on the back, with a dorsal series 

 of small reddish spots arranged in alternating pairs. A black mark 

 like a circumflex accent on the occiput, and a black band behind 

 the eyes. Belly yellow, speckled with black and white. 



Total length, 740 millimetres ; tail 50. 



Habitat : Armenia. 



(3) F. lebetina. — Snout rounded and obtuse, with a well-marked 

 prominence ; 7 — 12 longitudinal series of scales between the eyes ; 

 supraocular shields well developed or narrow, or broken up into 

 several small portions ; 12 — 18 scales round the eyes ; 9 — 12 supra- 

 labials ; 4 — 5 infralabials ; body scales in 23 — 27 rows ; 147 — 180 

 ventrals ; 29 — 51 subcaudals. 



Coloration variable, grey or pale brown on the back, with a 

 series of large dark spots. Large brown mark like a circumflex 

 accent on the crown of the head and another on the occiput. Belly 

 whitish, speckled with grey-brown ; end of tail yellow. 



Total length, 960 millimetres ; tail 120. The female may attain 

 the length of 1,350 millimetres. 



Habitat : Cyprus, Galilee, Syria, Asia Minor, Transcaspia, 

 Persia, Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Cashmir. 



