Lebetine viper, Levant viper, Levantine viper, Levantine adder, Kufi or Kufi viper (Arabic), Gjurza (Russian), Coffin snake, Levante viper, Mountain viper, Gunas (Kashmiri), Fina or Kontonoura (Greek Cypriot dialect)
Macrovipera lebetinus is a venomous viper species found in North Africa, much of the Middle East, and as far east as Kashmir. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate race described here.
The Blunt-nosed viper is a large venomous snake found in North Africa, much of the Middle East, and as far east as India. Its head is broad, triangular, and distinct from the neck. The snout is rounded and blunt when viewed from above, which is why it is called the blunt-nosed viper. The color pattern is less varied than one might expect from a species that is so widely distributed. The head is normally uniformly colored, although it can occasionally be marked with a dark V-shape. Dorsally, the ground color of the body can be gray, brown, beige, pinkish, olive, or khaki. The pattern, if present, is darker. It can be gray, bluish, rust, or brown in color, and may consist of a middorsal row or double row of large spots. When two rows are present, the spots may alternate or oppose, which can produce anything from a saddled to a continuous zigzag pattern. The spots are usually brown, dark gray, or black, but are sometimes red, brick, yellow, or olive in color.
Blunt-nosed vipers can be found in Algeria, Tunisia, Yemen, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Russian Caucasia, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Kashmir, India. These snakes occur in a wide range of habitats including forests, grasslands, shrubland, deserts, stony slopes, and mountain valleys. They also frequently visit cultivated and urban areas.
Blunt-nosed vipers are very dangerous and after their bite animals and people become seriously ill and often die. In spring they are active during the day; during hot summer months, they are usually active in the morning and evening, as well as at dusk and in the first half of the night. In May, with the onset of hot days, vipers move from the mountain slopes down to springs and wetlands. At the same time, clusters of snakes disperse, and each snake occupies its own hunting area. In November, Blunt-nosed vipers retreat in their winter shelters. They usually hibernate until March or mid-April in deep cracks and caves on steep slopes and in rocky canyons or cavities and ravines. Males are the first to emerge from hibernation when the air temperature warms up to at least 10 ° C, and females emerge about a week later. For about two weeks after hibernation vipers typically remain in groups near wintering shelters.
Blunt-nosed vipers are carnivores. Adults prey on small mammals, mainly rodents, but also on lizards, snakes, and occasionally chicks. Juveniles may sometimes eat insects.
The breeding season of Blunt-nosed vipers takes place between April and early June. Females lay from 8 to 25 eggs, but larger clutches also occur and may contain up to 43 eggs. The incubation period lasts from 25 to 50 days and newly hatched snakelets are 25-28 cm long.
The major threats to Blunt-nosed vipers include heavy persecution, overcollection for their venom, and habitat loss due to the expansion of agriculture.
According to IUCN, the Blunt-nosed viper is locally common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
