Alburzi viper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alburzi viper
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Vipera
Species:	eriwanensis
Synonyms
Acridophaga renardi eriwanensis Reuss, 1933 Vipera ursinii ebneri Knoepffler & Sochurek, 1955 Vipera ursinii eriwanensis — Joger, 1984 Vipera eriwanensis — Höggren et al., 1993 Vipera eriwanensis ebneri — Golay et al., 1993 Vipera renardi eriwanensis — Welch, 1994 Vipera (Pelias) eriwanensis — Nilson et al., 1999

Vipera eriwanensis, commonly known as the Alburzi viper or the Armenian steppe viper, is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae. The species is native to western Asia. There are two recognized subspecies.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies which are recognized as being valid.

• Vipera eriwanensis ebneri Knoepffler & Sochurek, 1955
• Vipera eriwanensis eriwanensis (Reuss, 1933)

Geographic range

V. eriwanensis is found in Armenia, northwestern Iran, and northeastern Turkey.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of V. eriwanensis is rocky areas of grassland, at altitudes of 1,000–3,000 m (3,300–9,800 ft).

Reproduction

V. eriwanensis is ovoviviparous. Litter size may be as large as ten.

Etymology

The subspecific name, ebneri, is in honor of Austrian entomologist Richard Ebner.