Vipera latastei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vipera latastei |
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Vipera
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| Species: |
latastei
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| Distribution of Vipera latasti. | |
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The Lataste's viper (Vipera latastei) is a type of venomous snake. It is also known as the snub-nosed viper or snub-nosed adder. This snake lives only in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and parts of northwestern Africa.
There are three types of Lataste's viper alive today. There is also one type that is now extinct.
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About the Name
The name latastei was given to honor Fernand Lataste. He was a French scientist who studied reptiles and amphibians. A year later, Lataste named a newt after Boscá, calling it Bosca's newt (Lissotriton boscai).
What it Looks Like
Lataste's vipers can grow up to about 72 centimeters (28 inches) long. However, they are usually smaller than this.
They are typically grey in color. Their head is shaped like a triangle. A special feature is a small "horn" on the tip of their nose. They also have a zig-zag pattern on their back. The very tip of their tail is yellow.
How it Behaves
You might see V. latastei during the day or night. But they usually stay hidden under rocks. Scientists think the yellow tip of their tail might be used to trick prey. The viper wiggles its tail to make it look like a worm, attracting small animals to come closer.
Where it Lives
Lataste's vipers are found in southwestern Europe. This includes Portugal and Spain. They also live in northwestern Africa, in the Mediterranean areas of Morocco and Algeria. It is possible they are no longer found in Tunisia.
Its Home
This viper likes places that are generally moist and rocky. You can find them in dry scrubland areas and woodlands. They also live near hedgerows, stone walls, and sometimes even in coastal dunes.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female Lataste's vipers give birth to live young. They can have between two and 13 babies at a time. On average, a female viper only gives birth once every three years.
Conservation Status
The Lataste's viper is considered a Vulnerable species. This means its population is decreasing. The main reasons for this decline are:
- Habitat loss: Their homes are disappearing due to human activities.
- Being hunted: People sometimes harm these snakes.
Because of these threats, the number of Lataste's vipers is expected to continue to drop. Some local groups of these snakes might even disappear completely.
This snake is also protected by the Berne Convention. This agreement helps protect wildlife in Europe.
Subspecies
There are different types, or subspecies, of Lataste's viper. Here are the recognized ones:
| Subspecies | Named by | Where it Lives |
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| V. l. arundana | Martinez-Freiria, Velo-Anton, Santos, & Pleguezuelos, 2021 | Spain. |
| V. l. gaditana | H. Saint-Girons, 1977 | Southern Spain and Portugal, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia. |
| V. l. latastei | Boscá, 1878 | Most of the Iberian peninsula south of the Pyrenees. |
| †V. l. ebusitana | Torres-Roig et al., 2020 | This subspecies used to live only on Ibiza, Spain, but it is now extinct. |
