Montivipera xanthina

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Montivipera xanthina, known as the rock viper, coastal viper, and Ottoman viper, is a venomous snake found in northeastern Greece, western Turkey, and several Aegean Sea islands. It lives in humid, rocky, well-vegetated areas.

Adults are usually 70–95 cm long, but can reach up to 130 cm on some Greek islands. It is gray or white with a distinctive black zig-zag back stripe, and some individuals are melanistic. The dorsal scales are keeled.

Its diet includes rodents and other small mammals, as well as birds; it may also eat lizards.

Venom: Montivipera xanthina is venomous. Its venom is mainly cytotoxic and haemotoxic and can be dangerous to humans, requiring prompt medical treatment after a bite. Typical venom yield is about 10 mg (dry weight), with a maximum around 18 mg.

Subspecies: none recognized. It is part of the Montivipera xanthina group, which also includes M. bornmuelleri, M. bulgardaghica, and M. wagneri.

Conservation: listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its wide distribution and large population. It is also protected under the Berne Convention (Appendix II).