A new subspecies of the subalpine meadow viper, Vipera ursinii Bonaparte Reptilia, Viperidae, from Greece
Nilson, G.; Andren, C.
Zoologica Scripta 173: 311-314
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-3256 DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-6409.1988.tb00106.x
Accession: 037661434
An isolated group of populations of the subalpine meadow viper, Vipera ursinii, from the southern Pindos mountains in Greece is described as a new subspecies. They differ from all other ursinii populations in a number of morphological characters, such as: shorter tail with a low number of subcaudals (lowest for the species); nasal normally divided into two plates or united with nasorostralia; low number of supralabials (6); first three supralabials very large while following ones are much reduced (less than half the height of anterior ones); third supralabial below orbit; lateral blotches and spots on body absent or weakly visible (mainly in some males and juveniles); no dark spots on cheek, labials and lateral and dorsal sides of head (except occipital and postorbital stripes); dorsal zig-zag band markedly jagged or only consisting of a narrow vertebral line.
