Montivipera raddei or Armenian viper is a species of viper, a venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, and possibly also Iraq. Two subspecies are recognized.
The specific name, raddei, is in honor of German naturalist Gustav Radde.
Common names for M. raddei include rock viper, Radde's mountain viper, Kurdistan viper (Vipera raddei kurdistanica ), Armenian mountain viper, Armenian viper, Radde's viper, Armenian mountain adder, and Zanjhani viper.
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Precocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
Venom is a type of poison, especially one secreted by an animal. It is delivered in a bite, sting, or similar action. Venom has evolved in terrestr...
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starts withAdult males of M. raddei grow to a maximum total length (including tail) of 99 cm (39 in). Adult females are smaller with a maximum total length of 79 cm (31 in).
Montivipera raddei is found in Eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and probably Iraqi Kurdistan. This species is parapatric or slightly sympatric with M. wagneri in the Aras river valley, Kars Province, eastern Turkey.
The type locality is listed as "Kasikoparan in Armenien ". According to Nilson and Andrén (1986), Kasikoparan, Armenia (40°02'N, 43°26'E) is now part of Turkey (Kazikkiran ), Tuzluca, Kars Province, northeastern Anatolia).
Montivipera raddei is classified as Lower Risk with a subcategory of least concern (LR/lc) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v2.3, 1994). This indicates that it has been evaluated, but that it does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. Also, it does not qualify for Conservation Dependent or Near Threatened either. Year assessed: 1996.
It is, however, listed as a protected species (Appendix III) under the Berne Convention.
