Vipera aspis hugyi


Vipera aspis hugyi is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to southern Italy.

Description

Usually, it is marked with a fused zigzag stripe and has a distinctly raised snout. Specimens from Montecristo Island, sometimes referred to as V. a. montecristi, are similar, but with a reduced tendency for the dorsal markings to fuse.

Common names

The species is also known as the Southern Italian asp, the South-Italian asp viper, or Hugy's viper. Previously, several other common names were used to describe a subspecies that is now part of the synonymy of this form, the Monte Cristo viper or Monte Cristo asp viper for Vipera aspis montecristi.

Geographic range

It is found in Italy in Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily and Montecristo Island.