Meadow viper: illustrated description
Physical features
- Length: 30 cm (12 inches)
- Vertical pupils
- Continuous dark zigzag on its back
- Stocky body
- Short tail
- 3 “plates” on its head :
- 1 large frontal scale
- 2 parietal scales
- 2 rows of scales between eye and mouth
- The muzzle is flattened on top, and the rostral scale is rounded.
Habitat
Mountain pastures with shelters and/or dry, calcareous grasslands, at altitude between 1,000 and 2,200 m.
Breeding
- The meadow viper is viviparous.
- Sexual cycle: 2 years
- Mating: May
- Birth: late August/September
Overview
- The meadow viper is the smallest viper in Europe.
- It is discreet and rare.
- The meadow viper is active in the morning and evening (and after rain).
- It likes damp, cool weather.
- It is venomous.
- It practices “ribbon” heliothermy: it optimizes its exposure to the sun by flattening its body as much as possible (like a ribbon).
Diet
- It feeds mainly on insects. Once bitten and envenomed, it swallows them head first.
- It also eats small mammals and lizards.
Meadow viper: scientific classification
- Domain: biota
- Kingdom: animalia
- Phylum: chordata
- Class: reptilia
- Order: squamata
- Family: viperidae
- Genus: vipera
- Species: Vipera ursinii
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)