Common names: Southern Italian asp,Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. . South-Italian asp viper,Steward JW. 1971. The Snakes of Europe. Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Press (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press). 238 pp. LCCCN 77-163307. . more.
Vipera aspis hugyi is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to southern Italy.
Description Usually, it is marked with a fused zigzag stripe and has a distinctly raised snout. Specimens from Montecristo Island, sometimes referred to as V. a. montecristi, are similar, but with a reduced tendency for the dorsal markings to fuse.Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. .
Common names The species is also known as the Southern Italian asp, the South-Italian asp viper, or Hugy's viper.Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. . Previously, several other common names were used to describe a subspecies that is now part of the synonymy of this form, the Monte Cristo viper or Monte Cristo asp viper for Vipera aspis montecristi.
Geographic range It is found in Italy in Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily and Montecristo Island.
References
Further reading Schinz HR. 1833. Naturgeschichte und Abbildungen der Reptilien. Schaffhausen, Switzerland: Brodtmann. iv + 240 pp. + 102 plates. ("Vipera Hugyi", p. 179.)