Asp viper: illustrated description
Physical features
- Length: between 16 and 27 inches (40 and 70 cm)
- The asp viper has a snub nose.
- Vertical pupils
- Small scales on the head
- Stocky body
- Short tail
- Keeled dorsal scales
- 3 rows of scales between eye and mouth
- The garrigue asp viper (“garrigue”= scrubland) is gray with dark spots.
Habitat
The asp viper can be found living near water as well as in dry environments.
Places where it can be found :
- Groves, hedges, embankments;
- Old stone walls;
- Wet meadows;
- Woodland edges;
- Marshes;
- Plains and mountains up to 2,800 m altitude.
Overview
- The asp viper is the most widespread viper in France.
- It is venomous.
- Asp vipers vary in coloration and pattern.
Diet
- Prey is envenomed by biting, then swallowed headfirst.
- Digestion can take up to one week, depending on the outside temperature.
Most common prey:
- Lizards ;
- Birds;
- Small mammals.
Breeding
- The asp viper is viviparous.
- Its sexual cycle depends on its fat reserves and climatic conditions. It generally lasts from 2 to 3 years.
- Eggs hatch at birth.
- Gestation lasts 3 months.
Asp viper: scientific classification
- Domain: biota
- Kingdom: animalia
- Phylum: chordata
- Class: reptilia
- Order: squamata
- Family: viperidae
- Genus: vipera
- Species: Vipera aspis
Sources:
- Webinar hosted by Nicolas FUENTO, who is an LPO wildlife officer & herpetologist (Western Provence) on October 1st 2024.
- Serpentsdefrance.fr where this list of the 10 Provence snakes comes from.
- "Serpents & autres reptiles" published by Komet (book in French)
- "Sur la piste des reptiles & des amphibiens" published by Dunod (book in French)
- "Mes Guides Nature : Reptiles & amphibiens" published by Milan Jeunesse (book in French)