Vipera ursinii

The specific name or epithet, ursinii, is in honor of Italian naturalist Antonio Orsini (1788–1870). ==Description==

Adults of Vipera ursini average in total length (tail included), although specimens of in total length have been reported. ==Common names==

Common names for Vipera ursinii include meadow viper, Ursini's viper, field adder. Although the following subspecies are currently invalid according to the taxonomy used here, their common names may still be encountered: • V. u. ursinii – Italian meadow viper. • V. u. macrops – karst viper, karst adder. • V. u. rakosiensis – Danubian meadow viper. • V. renardi – steppe viper, steppe adder, Renard's viper. • V. u. moldavica – Moldavian meadow viper. ==Geographic distribution==

Vipera ursinii is found in southeastern France, eastern Austria (extirpated), Hungary, central Italy, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, northern and northeastern Republic of Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania and Romania. The species has likely gone extinct in Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine. It is close to extinction in Hungary and a record from southeast Ukraine is questioned. although the taxonomic status of this subspecies is disputed (see section "Taxonomy") The type locality is " ...''monti dell'Abruzzo prossimi alla provincia d'Ascoli''... " (...mountains of Abruzzo near the Province of Ascoli Piceno, Italy...). ==Conservation status==

The species Vipera ursinii is considered to be a Vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, due to habitat destruction caused by changes in agricultural practices and climate change in mountain areas, and to collection for the pet trade. In addition, this species is listed on CITES Appendix I, which prohibits commercial international trade, and is a strictly protected species (Appendix II) under the Berne Convention. V. ursinii is the most threatened snake in Europe. At least 12 human activities are threatening these animals: 1. Grazing 2. Mowing 3. Fire 4. Agriculture 5. Roads 6. Constructions 7. Leisure Activities 8. Afforestation 9. Cynegetic species management 10. Persecution 11. Illegal collection 12. Littering ==Taxonomy==

There is high genetic diversity within samples of Vipera ursinii and several species may be involved. At least six subspecies may be encountered in modern literature: • Vipera ursinii ursinii (Bonaparte, 1835) • Vipera ursinii eriwanensis (A.F. Reuss, 1933) • Vipera ursinii graeca Nilson & Andrén, 1988 • Vipera ursinii macrops Méhelÿ, 1911 • Vipera ursinii moldavica Nilson, Andrén & Joger, 1993 • Vipera ursinii rakosiensis Méhely, 1893 • Vipera ursinii renardi Christoph, 1861 Golay et al. (1993) recognize the first four, while Mallow et al. (2003) recognize five and list V. eriwanensis and V. renardi as valid species. However, McDiarmid et al. (1999), and thus ITIS, feel that more definitive data is necessary before any subspecies can be recognized. Presently there are four recognised subspecies of Vipera ursinii. Vipera eriwanensis, Vipera graeca, and Vipera renardi are all recognised as distinct species. ==Notes==