Fig. 22.—Vipera aspis. (Natural size.) (From the Forest of Fontainebleau.)
Vipera latastii.
Intermediate between V. aspis and V. ammodytes. Snout less turned up into a corneous appendage than in the latter. Head covered with small, smooth, or feebly keeled, subimbricate scales, among which an enlarged frontal shield may sometimes be distinguished; 5-7 longitudinal series of scales between the supraocular shields; 9-13 scales round the eyes; 2 or 3 series between the eyes and the labials; nasal shield entire, separated from the rostral by a naso-rostral. Body scales in 21 rows, strongly keeled; 125-147 ventrals; 32-43 subcaudals.
Coloration grey or brown above, with a longitudinal zigzag band, usually spotted with white; head with or without spots on the vertex; black streak behind the eyes; ventral surface grey, spotted with black and white; tip of the tail usually yellow or with yellow spots.
Total length, 550-610 millimetres; tail 80-85.
Habitat: Spain and Portugal.
Vipera ammodytes.
([Fig. 21], 3 and 4).
Snout terminated in front by a horny appendage covered with 10-20 small scales; vertical diameter of the eyes less than the distance separating them from the mouth; upper surface of the head covered with small, smooth, or feebly keeled scales, among which an enlarged frontal and a pair of parietal shields are sometimes distinguishable; 5-7 longitudinal series of scales between the supraoculars; 10-13 scales round the eyes; two series between the eyes and the labials; nasal shield entire, separated from the rostral by a naso-rostral. Body scales in 21-23 rows, strongly keeled; 133-162 ventrals; 24-38 subcaudals.