Common names: ocellated mountain viper, Wagner's viper.

Vipera wagneri is a venomous

Venomous snake

"Poisonous snake" redirects here. For true poisonous snakes, see Rhabdophis.Venomous snakes are snakes which have venom glands and specialized teeth for the injection of venom...

 viper

Viperinae

The Viperinae, or viperines, are a subfamily of venomous vipers found in Europe, Asia and Africa. They are distinguished by their lack of the heat-sensing pit organs that characterize their sister group, the Crotalinae. Currently, 12 genera and 66 species are recognized...

 species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 found in eastern Turkey

Turkey

Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

 and northwest Iran

Iran

Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...

. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Description

Grows to a maximum length of 70-95 cm.

The head is relatively large, elongate and distinct from the neck. The snout is rounded and covered with small keeled scales. The rostal is in contact with 2-3 apical scales. The eyes are in broad contact with the large supraoculars and surrounded by 12-15 circumorbital scales. Across the top of the head, there are 6-7 interocular scales. There are usually 12-13 sublabials and 9 supralabials. The latter are separated from the eye by 1-2 scale rows. The nostril is located within a single nasal scale. The temporal scales

Temporal scales

In reptiles, the temporal scales are those scales on the side of the head between the parietal scales and the supralabial scales, and behind the postocular scales.There are two types of temporal scales:...

 are keeled and there is usually one canthal scale on either side of the head.

Midbody there are 23 rows of keeled dorsal scales

Dorsal scales

In snakes, the dorsal scales are the longitudinal series of plates that encircle the body, but do not include the ventral scales.When counting dorsal scales, numbers are often given for three points along the body, for example 19:21:17...

. There are 2-3 preventral scales

Preventral scales

Preventral scales are positioned anterior to the ventral scales and are wider than they are long, but do not come into contact with the paraventral row of dorsal scales on either side of the body....

, 161-170 ventrals and 23-31 paired subcaudals. The anal plate is single.

The color pattern consists of a grayish ground color overlaid with a central series of occasionally connected blotches or spots that run from the back of the head to the tail. These blotches are light brown to yellowish brown or orange with black borders and each is 4-8.5 scales wide.

The top of the head usually has two black elongated blotches that form a large dark open V marking, but without an apex. The arms of the V end on the neck. There is usually a dark stripe that runs from the corner of the eye to the angle of the mouth.

Geographic range

The mountains of eastern Turkey

Turkey

Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

 and adjacent northwest Iran

Iran

Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...

. The type locality given is "vicinity of Lake Urmia

Lake Urmia

Lake Urmia , ancient name: Lake Matiene) is a salt lake in northwestern Iran, near Iran's border with Turkey. The lake is between the Iranian provinces of East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan, west of the southern portion of the similarly shaped Caspian Sea...

 (Armenisch-Persische Grenze)" [Armenian-Persian border] (Province Azerbaijan, northwestern Iran).

Conservation status

This species is classified as Endangered (EN) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: A1d+2d, B1+2e, C1 (v2.3, 1994). This indicates a population reduction in the form of an observed, estimated, inferred or suspected reduction of at least 50% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, based on actual or potential levels of exploitation. For the same reason, a reduction of at least 50% is projected or suspected to be met within the next 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer. The extent of occurrence is estimated to be less than 5,000 km² or area of occupancy estimated to be less than 500 km², and indicate that the population is either severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than five locations. In addition, a continuing decline is inferred, observed or projected in number of mature individuals. The total population is estimated to number less than 2500 mature individuals and will likely suffer a decline of at least 20% within five years or two generations, whichever is longer. Year assessed: 1996. In 2008 status changed to Critically Endangered due to collection for the international pet trade. Additionally, planned Kara kurt dam complex will result in loss of over 80% of the suitable habitat.

This species is also listed on CITES Appendix II, which means that it is not necessarily threatened with extinction, but may become so if it is not listed. It is, however, listed as a strictly protected species (Appendix II) under the Berne Convention

Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats

The Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats 1979, also known as the Bern Convention , came into force on June 1, 1982....

.