Vipera aspis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	REPTILIA	SQUAMATA	VIPERIDAE

Scientific Name:

Vipera aspis

Species Authority:

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Asp Viper
Spanish	–	Vipera Áspid, Vipera Áspid

Taxonomic Notes:

The specific rank proposed for the subspecies Vipera a. hugyi (from Montecristo Island and southern Italy), and V.a. francisciredi (from central and northern Italy), and V.a. zinnikeri (from the Pyrenees) (Zuffi 2002; C. Corti pers. comm.) is controversial. While some of these proposals might be valid, more analyses are required (Crochet and Dubois 2004). Recent studies by Ursenbacher et al. (2006), suggest that V. a. atra is not a valid subspecies.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2009

Assessor/s:

Claudia Corti, Juan M. Pleguezuelos, Valentin Pérez-Mellado, Rafael Marquez, Marc Cheylan, Philippe Geniez, Ulrich Joger, Hans Konrad Nettmann, Benedikt Schmidt, Andreas Meyer, Roberto Sindaco, Antonio Romano, Iñigo Martínez-Solano

Reviewer/s:

Cox, N. and Temple, H.J. (Global Reptile Assessment)

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

History:

2006

–

Least Concern (IUCN 2006)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species ranges from north-central and northeastern Spain , through much of France (where it is absent from the north and the Mediterranean coastal area), southwestern Germany (where it is known only from a single locality in the Black Forest), western and central Switzerland, throughout Italy (including the islands of Sicily, Elba and Montecristo; in the latter is very probably introduced), and western Slovenia. The species has not been recorded from Croatia ((Dušan Jelić pers. comm., October 2008). Records of this species outside of the current range need to be confirmed. It can be found up to 3,000 m asl.
Countries:	Native: France; Germany; Italy; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland Regionally extinct: Bulgaria
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is a common species in much of its range. The species appears to be expanding its range geographically and altitudinally in France, however the extent of this change needs to be determined.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is found in dry, rocky areas, open scrubland, open woodlands, closed forest, hedges, pastures and stone walls. It often occurs on the edge of natural habitats, and is characteristic of chestnut woods in Italy. The species is common in mesic habitats. It is rare in suburban areas and arable land. The females give birth to between five and 22 young.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species is threatened by loss of habitat through agricultural intensification, and to a lesser degree loss of habitat resulting from the development of tourist facilities and urbanization. The species is often found in open areas and overgrowth of these sites is an additional threat (for example in the Jura Mountains) (Jaggi and Baur, 1999). The species is persecuted by people, and illegally collected for the pet trade. Some populations are threatened through mortality on roads.

Major Threat(s):

This species is threatened by loss of habitat through agricultural intensification, and to a lesser degree loss of habitat resulting from the development of tourist facilities and urbanization. The species is often found in open areas and overgrowth of these sites is an additional threat (for example in the Jura Mountains) (Jaggi and Baur, 1999). The species is persecuted by people, and illegally collected for the pet trade. Some populations are threatened through mortality on roads.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and is protected by national legislation in parts of its range (e.g.. Switzerland). It occurs in many protected areas. The subspecies V. a. aspis is categorized as Critically Endangered in Switzerland; V. a. atra is categorized as Vulnerable; and V. a. francisciredi is categorized as Endangered (Monney and Meyer, 2005).

Conservation Actions:

This species is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and is protected by national legislation in parts of its range (e.g.. Switzerland). It occurs in many protected areas. The subspecies V. a. aspis is categorized as Critically Endangered in Switzerland; V. a. atra is categorized as Vulnerable; and V. a. francisciredi is categorized as Endangered (Monney and Meyer, 2005).

Bibliography [top]

	Andreu, A., Bea, A., Braña, F., Galán, P., López-Jurado, L.F., Pérez-Mellado, V., Pleguezuelos, J.M. and Salvador, A. 1998. Fauna Ibérica. Reptiles. 10: 1-705. Arnold, E.N. 2003. Reptiles and amphibians of Europe. Princeton University Press., Princeton and Oxford. Crochet, P.-A. and Dubois, A. 2004. Recent changes in the taxonomy of European amphibians and reptiles. In: Gasc, J.-P., Cabela, A., Crnobrnja-Isailovic, J., Dolmen, D., Grossenbacher, K., Haffner, P., Lescure, J., Martens, H., Martínez Rica, J.P., Maurin, H., Oliveira, M.E., Sofianidou, T.S., Veith, M., Zuiderwijk, A. (ed.), Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Re-edition., Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris. Faoro, G. 1986. Bemerkungen zur Verbastardierung von Vipera ammodytes mit Vipera aspis atra. Herpetofauna: 6-7. Garrigues, T., Dauga, C., Ferquel, E., Choumet, V. and Failloux, A.B. 2005. Molecular phylogeny of Vipera Laurenti, 1768 and the related genera Macrovipera (Reuss, 1927) and Daboia (Gray, 1842), with comments about neurotoxic Vipera aspis aspis populations. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 35(1):35-47.. Gasc, J.-P., Cabela, A., Crnobrnja-Isailovic, J., Dolmen, D., Grossenbacher, K., Haffner, P., Lescure, J., Martens, H., Martínez-Rica, J.P., Maurin, H., Oliveira, M.E., Sofianidou, T.S., Veith, M. and Zuiderwijk, A. 1997. Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Societas Europaea Herpetologica and Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Hofer, U., Monney, J.-C. and Dusej, G. 2001. Die Reptilien der Schweiz: Verbreitung, Lebensräume, Schutz. Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, Switzerland. IUCN. 2009. European Species on the IUCN Red List. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/europe. (Accessed: 22 June 2009). Jaggi, C. and Baur, B. 1999. Overgrowing forest as a possible cause for the local extinction of Vipera aspis in the northern Swiss Jura mountains. Amphibia-Reptilia: 25-34. Jaggi, C. Wirth, T. and Baur, B. 2000. Genetic variability in subpopulations of the asp viper (Vipera aspis) in the Swiss Jura mountains: implications for a conservation strategy. Biological Conservation: 69-77. Kery, M. 2002. Inferring the absence of a species - A case study of snakes. Journal of Wildlife Management: 330-338. Martínez-Freira, F., Santos, X., Pleguezuelos, J.M., Lizana, M. and Brito, J. in press. Geographical patterns of morphological variation and environmental correlates in contact zones: a multi-scale approach using two Mediterranean vipers. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. McDiarmid, R.W., Campbell, J.A. and Touré, T.A. 1999. Snake species of the world. Vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. Monney, J.-C. and Meyer, A. 2005. Rote Liste der gefährdeten Reptilien der Schweiz. BUWAL-Reihe: Vollzug Umwelt, 50 S., (BUWAL, Bern, Switzerland). Pleguezuelos, J.M., Márquez, R. and Lizana, M. 2002. Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Anfibios y Reptiles de España. Dirección General de la Conservación de la naturaleza-Associación Herpetológica Española., Madrid. Saint-Girons, H. 1981. Quelques observations sur la dispersion des nouveau-nes chez Vipera berus et Vipera aspis dans le bocage atlantique (Reptilia: Viperidae). Amphibia-Reptilia: 269-272. Sindaco, R., Doria, G., Razzetti, E. and Bernini, F. 2006. Atlas of Italian Amphibians and Reptiles\\Atlante Degli Anfibi E Dei Rettili D'Italia. Societas Herpetologica Italica - Edizioni Polistampa, Firenze. Ursenbacher, S., Conelli, A., Golay, P., Monney, J.-C., Zuffi, M.A.L., Thiery, G., Durand, T. and Fumagalli, L. 2006. Phylogeography of the asp viper (Vipera aspis) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data: Evidence for multiple Mediterranean refugial areas. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution: 546-552. Zuffi, M.A.L. 2002. A critique of the systematic position of the asp viper subspecies Vipera aspis aspis (Linnaeus, 1758), Vipera aspis atra Meisner, 1820, Vipera aspis francisciredi Laurenti, 1768, Vipera aspis hugyi Schinz, 1833 and Vipera aspis zinnikeri Kramer, 1958. Amphibia-Reptilia: 191-213.

Andreu, A., Bea, A., Braña, F., Galán, P., López-Jurado, L.F., Pérez-Mellado, V., Pleguezuelos, J.M. and Salvador, A. 1998. Fauna Ibérica. Reptiles. 10: 1-705.

Arnold, E.N. 2003. Reptiles and amphibians of Europe. Princeton University Press., Princeton and Oxford.

Crochet, P.-A. and Dubois, A. 2004. Recent changes in the taxonomy of European amphibians and reptiles. In: Gasc, J.-P., Cabela, A., Crnobrnja-Isailovic, J., Dolmen, D., Grossenbacher, K., Haffner, P., Lescure, J., Martens, H., Martínez Rica, J.P., Maurin, H., Oliveira, M.E., Sofianidou, T.S., Veith, M., Zuiderwijk, A. (ed.), Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Re-edition., Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.

Faoro, G. 1986. Bemerkungen zur Verbastardierung von Vipera ammodytes mit Vipera aspis atra. Herpetofauna: 6-7.

Garrigues, T., Dauga, C., Ferquel, E., Choumet, V. and Failloux, A.B. 2005. Molecular phylogeny of Vipera Laurenti, 1768 and the related genera Macrovipera (Reuss, 1927) and Daboia (Gray, 1842), with comments about neurotoxic Vipera aspis aspis populations. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 35(1):35-47..

Gasc, J.-P., Cabela, A., Crnobrnja-Isailovic, J., Dolmen, D., Grossenbacher, K., Haffner, P., Lescure, J., Martens, H., Martínez-Rica, J.P., Maurin, H., Oliveira, M.E., Sofianidou, T.S., Veith, M. and Zuiderwijk, A. 1997. Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Societas Europaea Herpetologica and Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris.

Hofer, U., Monney, J.-C. and Dusej, G. 2001. Die Reptilien der Schweiz: Verbreitung, Lebensräume, Schutz. Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, Switzerland.

IUCN. 2009. European Species on the IUCN Red List. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/europe. (Accessed: 22 June 2009).

Jaggi, C. and Baur, B. 1999. Overgrowing forest as a possible cause for the local extinction of Vipera aspis in the northern Swiss Jura mountains. Amphibia-Reptilia: 25-34.

Jaggi, C. Wirth, T. and Baur, B. 2000. Genetic variability in subpopulations of the asp viper (Vipera aspis) in the Swiss Jura mountains: implications for a conservation strategy. Biological Conservation: 69-77.

Kery, M. 2002. Inferring the absence of a species - A case study of snakes. Journal of Wildlife Management: 330-338.

Martínez-Freira, F., Santos, X., Pleguezuelos, J.M., Lizana, M. and Brito, J. in press. Geographical patterns of morphological variation and environmental correlates in contact zones: a multi-scale approach using two Mediterranean vipers. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research.

McDiarmid, R.W., Campbell, J.A. and Touré, T.A. 1999. Snake species of the world. Vol. 1. Herpetologists' League.

Monney, J.-C. and Meyer, A. 2005. Rote Liste der gefährdeten Reptilien der Schweiz. BUWAL-Reihe: Vollzug Umwelt, 50 S., (BUWAL, Bern, Switzerland).

Pleguezuelos, J.M., Márquez, R. and Lizana, M. 2002. Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Anfibios y Reptiles de España. Dirección General de la Conservación de la naturaleza-Associación Herpetológica Española., Madrid.

Saint-Girons, H. 1981. Quelques observations sur la dispersion des nouveau-nes chez Vipera berus et Vipera aspis dans le bocage atlantique (Reptilia: Viperidae). Amphibia-Reptilia: 269-272.

Sindaco, R., Doria, G., Razzetti, E. and Bernini, F. 2006. Atlas of Italian Amphibians and Reptiles\\Atlante Degli Anfibi E Dei Rettili D'Italia. Societas Herpetologica Italica - Edizioni Polistampa, Firenze.

Ursenbacher, S., Conelli, A., Golay, P., Monney, J.-C., Zuffi, M.A.L., Thiery, G., Durand, T. and Fumagalli, L. 2006. Phylogeography of the asp viper (Vipera aspis) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data: Evidence for multiple Mediterranean refugial areas. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution: 546-552.

Zuffi, M.A.L. 2002. A critique of the systematic position of the asp viper subspecies Vipera aspis aspis (Linnaeus, 1758), Vipera aspis atra Meisner, 1820, Vipera aspis francisciredi Laurenti, 1768, Vipera aspis hugyi Schinz, 1833 and Vipera aspis zinnikeri Kramer, 1958. Amphibia-Reptilia: 191-213.

Citation:	Claudia Corti, Juan M. Pleguezuelos, Valentin Pérez-Mellado, Rafael Marquez, Marc Cheylan, Philippe Geniez, Ulrich Joger, Hans Konrad Nettmann, Benedikt Schmidt, Andreas Meyer, Roberto Sindaco, Antonio Romano, Iñigo Martínez-Solano 2009. Vipera aspis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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