The asp viper is a viper of southwestern Europe that is also known by the names asp, aspic viper, Jura viper, and European asp, among others. The specific name aspis is a Greek word meaning viper. It is both diurnal and crepuscular.
It symbolized Egyptian royalty and was used to execute favored criminals in the Greco-Roman era. The Egyptian queen Cleopatra is thought to be killed by the asp if we go by the account of the Roman historian, Velleius Paterculus. But there is a general lack of consensus on the cause of the death.
Scientific Classifications
- Suborder:Serpentes
- Family:Viperidae
- Genus:Vipera
- Species:V. aspis
Conservation Status
Subspecies
This snake has five recognized subspecies.
- European asp (Vipera aspis aspis)
- Black asp (Vipera aspis atra)
- Central Italian asp (Vipera aspis francisciredi)
- Southern Italian asp (Vipera aspis hugyi)
- Gascony asp (Vipera aspis zinnikeri)
Description
Size
It reaches an average total length of 24-26 in (60-65 cm). Males reach a maximum total length of 33 in (85 cm), and females get rarely longer than 30 in (75 cm). However, the males are a little slimmer than the females. The species has a very short tail – 1/6th to 1/8th of the total body size in males and 1/7th – 1/9th in females.
Color and Appearance
The broad, triangular head is distinct from the neck. There is a slight but distinct upturn of the snout. The rostral scale is usually higher than it is wide and touches 2-3 scales on the upper side of the snout. The flat snout has prominent and slightly raised sharp edges. The vertical diameter of the eye is almost the same as the distance between the eye and mouth.
There are 21-23 (rarely 19 or 25) rows of dorsal scales that are strongly keeled except for the outermost rows, which can sometimes be smooth. The ventral scales are 134-170 in number. The subcaudal scales are paired. Males have 32-49 subcaudal scales. For females, the number is 30-43. The species has a single anal scale. The dorsal pattern varies greatly but rarely for a clear zig-zag like the European adder. The males are generally grey, while the females can be brown, grey, or varying shades of orange.
Are They Dangerous to Humans
The asp is calm and cautious in its behavior. It is not aggressive and prefers to flee and hide in cover when disturbed. It has a characteristic warning signal. The asp viper curls its tail into a circle, stretches the front part of its body upwards, and hisses loudly before striking. Though painful, many first defensive bites are dry and not life-threatening. Only a very frightened snake delivers a venomous bite.
Their fangs are hollow, hinged, long and can be rotated independently. Bites from the asp viper are more severe than those of the European adder. The bite is very painful, and approximately 4% of untreated bites are fatal. It is the only poisonous snake in the Italian mountains and is responsible for 90% of the snakebites in the country.
The venom toxicity varies. According to Stemmler (1971), the population in the Passwang district of Switzerland has the most potent venom on the basis of studies conducted on mice. Tu et al. (1969) give the LD50 value as 4.7 mg/kg IM. Brown (1973) gives LD50 values of 1.0 mg/kg IV and 1.0-2.0 mg/kg SC. The venom yield is comparatively low. Boquet (1964) recorded a daily extraction figure of 9-10 mg.
Envenomation causes quickly spreading acute pain followed by discoloration and edema. Severe hemorrhagic necrosis can occur within a few hours. The degradation of blood and blood vessels in the eyes could cause severely impaired vision. The glomerular structure could also be affected, leading to death due to renal failure. The venom has both coagulating and anti-coagulating properties. It can cause reduced oxygen exchange and direct muscle injury leading to cardiovascular failure.
So the snakebite warrants immediate medical attention. Though antivenoms exist, untreated bites can be deadly.
Asp Vipers at a Glance
Distribution
It is endemic to Andorra, France, northeastern Spain, southern Black Forest in extreme southwestern Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and northwestern Slovenia. In August-October 2006, a small introduced population was found in a wooded area near the Dutch town of Poortugaal.
Habitat
It requires warm areas with sun exposure, relatively dry soils, and structured vegetation. It prefers vegetated environments with at least some cover. Though it is not strongly linked with high altitudes, it has been spotted at elevations well over 6900 ft (2100 m) above the sea level in the Pyrenees.
It frequents hills or low mountains in France and Italy, specifically limestone regions, but sometimes occurs in the lower plains. Here it inhabits scrublands, sunny slopes, glades, forest clearings, mountain meadows, borders of woods, stone quarries, and rubbish dumps. In Italy, it lives in mesic oak or chestnut woodlands, often near streams.
Lifespan
The asp viper lives for up to 20 years.
Predators
Their main predators are birds, for example, members of the families Corvidae and Falconidae. Badgers, hedgehogs, martens, foxes, polecats, and weasels also eat the snake.
Diet
The ambush predator mainly feeds on small reptiles, rodents, and birds.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young from eggs that hatch inside the body)
The aspic viper breeds between April and May. A female gives birth to 5-12 young in a litter after passing through a gestation period of 3-4 months. The babies are born fully developed and can forage a few days after birth.
Source
inaturalist.ca, researchgate.net, taxref.mnhn.fr, stock.adobe.com, a-z-animals.com, i.pinimg.com, understandingitaly.com
