Vipera ursinii
Meadow viper (Vipera ursinii macrops )
The meadow viper (Vipera ursinii ) is a Eurasian viper, other names for this snake are Spitzkopf Otter Otter and Karst.
Features
Adults meadow otters are the smallest European poisonous snakes with a body length of about half a meter. Your body is compared to other vipers relatively slender, its body color is brown or gray or dark green or yellow usually, the back is often ( similar to the viper ) patterned with a black zigzag band, which is surrounded by a bright ribbon. Through their keeled scales, the meadow viper feels rough to the touch on.
Dissemination
The meadow viper is one of Europe's most endangered species; currently it still happens in central Italy, the southern Balkans, Hungary and western France. However, the populations in Hungary, Bulgaria and France are close to extinction. The hazard cause is the drainage of wetlands by humans; thus it is also true in Austria to be extinct: The last clear evidence came in 1973, several methodological Search in theoretically suitable habitats in Lower Austria and Burgenland were unsuccessful. While the spread of the Hungarian meadow viper V. and rakosiensis formerly stretched from Austria to Hungary and Transylvania and the northern Bulgaria, it is now only in small populations in the Great Hungarian Plain between the rivers Danube and Tisza River, in the National Park Fertő Hansag ago.
Way of life
The meadow viper feeds primarily on grasshoppers and crickets are also occasionally lizards, frogs and young mice on their menu. The meadow viper is ovoviviparous, that is viviparous.
Depending on the habitat of the subspecies into two groups can be divided, which is also reflected in the German name: The meadow viper Vipera Vipera u and u rakonsiensis moldavica prefer warm moist meadows and floodplain habitat. The meadow viper is found almost exclusively in the lowlands. The karst vipers Vipera ursinii u, u graeca and Vipera Vipera macrops u live in the subalpine area in 1000 to 2400 meters above sea level and rarely reach more than 45 cm body length.
Taxonomy
Within the family of vipers ( Viperidae ) the meadow viper belongs to the genus of the Real vipers (Vipera ). It was first described by Bonaparte in 1835 as Pelias ursinii. Boulenger 1893 ranks it as Vipera ursinii in a genuine otters.
After Nilson and Andrén the system revised in 2001, one distinguishes the following subtypes:
- Vipera u ursinii - Central Italy
- Vipera u macrops - Balkan
- Vipera u rakosiensis - Hungary to Romania
- Vipera u graeca - Greece
- Vipera u moldavica - Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova
The formerly distinct subspecies Vipera u wettsteini ( central France ) is usually assigned to the nominate Vipera u ursinii. The subspecies Vipera u anatolica ( southern Turkey ) is now declared as an independent species Vipera anatolica. The same applies to the subspecies Vipera u eriwanensis - Today Armenian meadow viper (Vipera eriwanensis ) - and Vipera u renardi - today steppe viper ( Vipera renardi ). Introduced by Knöpfner and Sochurek 1955 subspecies Vipera u ebneri is today mostly as a synonym of Vipera eriwanensis.
Poison
Due to their small size, the meadow viper of all European vipers has the smallest venom glands. The poison itself has been proven to be extremely effective. It is much stronger than the related species from the European distribution area. Nevertheless, it comes in bite out of people alone due to the small amount of poison to relatively weak toxicity. The bite of the small Viper is compared to the sting of a wasp. However, as with this one momentous disease to be expected if the organism of the person concerned an allergic reaction or a secondary wave of infections. Under no circumstances should an injury should not be underestimated. Medical advice is always to avail!
Species protection
The meadow viper is in many countries under protection, the trade of this snake is virtually banned under the CITES Convention: All European populations are listed in Appendix 1 and particularly protected. The Habitats Directive lists the meadow viper in Annex II and IV, ie as a strictly protected species, need to be identified for special protection areas. V. u rakosiensis is classified on the basis of their acute threat as a priority. In Germany it is strictly protected by the Federal Nature Conservation Act.
Several LIFE projects the EU are currently trying their protection, such as in Hungary.