A short, thick alpine viper of southwestern Europe, named for the asp of Greek and Roman antiquity but distinct from Cleopatra's snake.
Description
A stout snake under a meter long with a strongly upturned snout, a wide triangular head, and a back patterned in dark bars or zig-zags over grey, brown, or reddish ground colour. Males tend to be more contrasting than the duller, browner females.
Behavior
Asp vipers are slow-moving, secretive ambush hunters that bask on warm rocks before retreating into crevices. Bites in humans are uncommon but medically serious, with cytotoxic venom causing severe local swelling. They are responsible for most venomous snakebites in France and Switzerland.
Range
Restricted to southwestern Europe, from the Pyrenees east through the southern Alps and along the Italian peninsula. Several subspecies differ noticeably in colour and pattern across this range.
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