Meadow viper  (Vipera ursinii)

Description

The meadow viper is a small, venomous snake (5), with a beautiful and intricate zigzag pattern marking the length of its back (6). The basic body colour is a light grey to brown along the sides, usually with a paler band down the centre of the back, within which a dark zigzag with black edging appears (2). Occasionally, strongly yellow-coloured scales can occur around these markings. A dark ‘V’ shaped mark appears on the top of the head and there is a dark stripe behind the eye (2). The underside of the body ranges from black to dark grey or even reddish, often with grey-white speckles (2). Females grow larger than males and as with most vipers, this species have hinged, hollow fangs, which inject poison into prey or as a defence mechanism.

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