Vipera aspis atra

Vipera aspis atra
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Vipera
Species:
V. aspis
Subspecies:
V. a. atra
Trinomial name
Vipera aspis atra
Meisner, 1820
Synonyms
  • Vipera atra Meisner, 1820
  • Vipera aspis atra — Meisner, 1820
  • Vipera aspis var. nigra
    Bonaparte, 1834
  • Vipera aspis var. rubriventris
    Bonaparte, 1834
  • Vipera aspis var. nigra
    — Massalongo, 1854
  • Vipera aspis var. immaculata
    — Calderini, 1878
  • Vipera aspis var. Calderinii
    De Betta, 1879
  • [Vipera aspis] var. infernalis
    F. Müller, 1880
  • Mesovipera morathi lepontica
    A.F. Reuss, 1938
  • Vipera (Rhinaspis) aspis atra
    — Obst, 1983
  • Vipera aspis typus Golay et al., 1993
Common names: black asp, black viper.

Vipera aspis atra is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to France, Switzerland and Italy.

Geographic range

It is found in western Switzerland, northwestern Italy, Spain, and southeastern France. Mallow et al. (2003) describe the range only as "portions of Switzerland".

Conservation status

This subspecies is classified as Vulnerable (VU) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).

Taxonomy

A recent study by Ursenbacher et al. (2006) suggests that V. a. atra may not be a valid subspecies.

References

  1. ↑ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. ↑ Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
  3. ↑ "Vipera aspis atra". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 15 August 2006.
  4. 1 2 Vipera aspis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  5. ↑ Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
  6. 1 2 Vipera aspis at IUCN Red List. Accessed 6 October 2006.
  7. ↑ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1)IUCN Red List. Accessed 6 October 2006.

Further reading