Armenian Viper

Adult Armenian vipers have a robust body and a flat head. Males can reach a maximum length of 99 cm, while females are smaller, up to 79 cm. Their coloration varies from dark gray to brown, with yellow-orange or reddish-brown spots along the back. Two black diagonal stripes are located on the back of the head, and the belly is dark gray with black spots. The Armenian viper inhabits southern Armenia, Nakhijevan, northeastern Turkey, and northwestern Iran. It prefers rocky habitats in mountainous xerophytic and oak forests, often found at elevations between 1000 and 2700 meters above sea level, with a primary range from 1300 to 1800 meters. These snakes are active from April to October, with peaks in activity during the morning and evening hours in the summer months. The mating season begins in mid-May and lasts until the end of June, with a gestation period of 140 to 160 days. The Armenian viper is ovoviviparous, giving birth to 2 to 14 young in late summer. The population of this species is declining due to human activities such as land cultivation and construction on mountain slopes. The Armenian viper is protected in the Khosrov Nature Reserve and is listed in the Red Book of Armenia and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.