Vipera aspis zinnikeri

Taxobox
name = "Vipera aspis zinnikeri"


image_width =
image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Viperidae
subfamilia = Viperinae
genus = "Vipera"
species = "V. aspis"
subspecies = "V. a. zinnikeri"
trinomial = "Vipera aspis zinnikeri"
trinomial_authority = Kramer, 1958
synonyms = * "Vipera aspis zinnikeri" - Kramer, 1958
* "Vipera" ("Rhinaspis") "aspis zinnikeri" - Obst, 1983McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).] :"Common names: Gascony asp, Gascony viper,Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.] Gascony asp viper.Steward JW. 1971. The Snakes of Europe. Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Press (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press). 238 pp. LCCCN 77-163307. ISBN 0-8386-1023-4.] ""Vipera aspis zinnikeri" is a venomous viper subspeciesITIS|ID=635255|taxon=Vipera aspis zinnikeri|year=2006|date=15 August] found in the Pyrenees region of Spain and France.NRDB species|genus=Vipera|species=aspis|date=13 December|year=2007] It was named after a Swiss herpetologist.

Description

Relatively small in size with a maximum of length of 65 cm. Also, the head is long and narrow compared to other members of this species. The total number of ventrals and subcaudals is 175-187 in males and 170-183 in females.

The color pattern is much like that of "Vipera berus". The dorsal pattern is fused into a broad, wavy or zigzag marking that contains a straight-edged, pale stripe about three scales wide. This pattern stands out clearly against the ground color, which is particularly light along the edges of the dorsal pattern. A series of dark vertical bars or extended ovals run along the flanks, opposing the indentations of the dorsal pattern.

The aforementioned middorsal stripe may be pale beige or grey. The ground color of some specimens may approach clear orange.

Geographic range

This race is found in the Pyrenees region of northeastern Spain and southwestern France. Steward (1971) states that they occur in the Department of Gers in Gascony, southwestern France. Street (1979) describes its range as "Gancony, Andorra and a nearby Spanish locality."Street D. 1979. The Reptiles of Northern and Central Europe. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. 268 pp. ISBN 0-7134-1374-3.]

ee also

* List of viperine species and subspecies
*
*
* Snakebite

References

External links

* Image 1 of 3 of [http://naturephoto.akuter.com/site/FRANCE-EUROPE/Reptiles/Serpents/0054-096_Reptile_Vipera_aspis_zinnikeri_Vipere_aspic_11.jpg"Vipera aspis zinnikeri"] at [http://naturephoto.akuter.com/ Nature & Wildlife Photography] . Accessed 29 October 2006.
* Image 2 of 3 of [http://naturephoto.akuter.com/site/FRANCE-EUROPE/Reptiles/Serpents/0054-098_Reptile_Vipera_aspis_zinnikeri_Vipere_aspic_11.jpg"Vipera aspis zinnikeri"] at [http://naturephoto.akuter.com/ Nature & Wildlife Photography] . Accessed 29 October 2006.
* Image 3 of 3 of [http://naturephoto.akuter.com/site/FRANCE-EUROPE/Reptiles/Serpents/0054-101_Reptile_Vipera_aspis_zinnikeri_Vipere_aspic_11.jpg"Vipera aspis zinnikeri"] at [http://naturephoto.akuter.com/ Nature & Wildlife Photography] . Accessed 29 October 2006.