Systematics of the nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes, Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

Geographic variability of the nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes) was analysed using multivariate techniques in order to clarify the taxonomic status and geographic ranges of the subspecies. Analyses included samples ranging from central northern Italy and southern Austria to easternmost Turkey, Georgia and Armenia, and hence, all described taxa. In total, 14 morphometric, five meristic and nine qualitative traits of 922 specimens (451 males and 471 females) were recorded and analysed using different multivariate statistics. The results showed the validity of four subspecies: one inhabiting the western and central parts of the species' range (from Italy, via Austria, to the western and central parts of the Balkans), the second occurring in the southernmost part of the Balkan peninsula, the third distributed from the southern and eastern Balkans to western Turkey and the fourth inhabiting eastern Turkey, Georgia and Armenia.