Vipera latastei
| Vipera latastei | |
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| Lataste's viper at the St. Louis Zoo | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Subfamily: | Viperinae |
| Genus: | Vipera |
| Species: | V. latastei |
| Binomial name | |
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Vipera latastei , 1878 |
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| Distribution of Vipera latasti. | |
| Synonyms | |
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Vipera latastei is a venomous viper species endemic to extreme southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
The specific name latastei, is in honor of Boscà's French colleague, herpetologist Fernand Lataste, who would a year later return him the honor, by naming after him a discovery of his own, Boscá's newt (Lissotriton boscai ).
V. latastei grows to a maximum total length (body + tail) of about 72 cm (28.3 in), but usually less. It is grey in colour, has a triangular head, a "horn" on the tip of its nose, and a zig-zag pattern on its back. The tip of the tail is yellow.
It can be seen day or night but is usually hidden under rocks. The yellow tip of the tail is possibly used to lure prey.
It is found in southwestern Europe (Portugal and Spain) and northwestern Africa (the Mediterranean region of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia).
The type locality given is "Ciudad Real", emended to "Valencia, Spanien" (Valencia, Spain) by Mertens and L. Müller (1928).
This species is found in generally moist, rocky areas, in dry scrubland and woodland, hedgerows, stone walls and sometimes in coastal dunes.
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Wikipedia