Vipera monticola

Vipera monticola, also known as the Atlas mountain viper,^[2] is a viper species endemic to Morocco.^[1] Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

Vipera monticola
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Vipera
Species:	V. monticola
Binomial name
Vipera monticola Saint-Girons, 1954
Synonyms[1]
Vipera latastei montana Saint-Girons, 1953 Vipera latastei monticola Saint-Girons, 1954 (nomen novum) Vipera latasti monticola — Klemmer, 1963 Vipera monticola — Beerli, Billing & Schätti, 1986

Description

The Atlas mountain viper (Vipera monticola) is a very small species with a maximum total length (body + tail) of less than 40 cm (16 in).^[3] Spawls and Branch (1995) describe it as the smallest member of the genus Vipera, reaching a total length of only 345 mm (13.6 in).^[2]

Geographic range

It is found in the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco.

The type locality given is "Haut-Atlas, Massif du Toubkal, Maroc...qu'entre 2.500 et 3.900 m " [Toubkal Massif, High Atlas Mountains, southwestern Morocco, between 8,200 and 12,800 ft].^[1]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).^[4] Listed as such because its extent of occurrence is likely not much more than 20,000 km², and the extent and quality of its habitat are probably declining, therefore making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable. Year assessed: 2005.^[5]