Lataste's Viper (Vipera latastei): habitat and range

Fun facts

GeneralEndemic to south-western Europe and the Maghreb; it is recognised by the horn on its snout.
sentidosIt is one of the few venomous snakes native to the Iberian Peninsula, and can sense the body heat of small mammals even in total darkness.
It is one of only three vipers on the Iberian Peninsula, alongside the asp viper and Seoane's viper, and the most widespread across the centre and south of the peninsula.
It is in sharp decline in Spain: road deaths, agricultural intensification and above all direct persecution out of fear have made it disappear from wide areas where it used to be common.
It is viviparous and extremely slow to reproduce: the females breed only every two or three years, so a population takes a long time to recover from any loss.

Life cycle and biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat and environment: Mediterranean scrub, rock outcrops, scree and sunny slopes of the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb
Sexual maturity: 3 years
Gestation / incubation: 3 months of gestation
Litter / clutch size: 6 live young

Sources consulted: Wikipedia (es): Vipera latastei

Where to find it

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The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.

Where to see it

Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 10 of 24.

Related species

Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Lataste's Viper — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.

Same taxonomic family

Shares a park

How to help

The lataste's viper is classified as vulnerable. Organisations such as the IUCN, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programmes is a good starting point if you want to get involved.

It's documented in 8 protected areas — one reason why protecting these places matters for its conservation.

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Lataste's Viper