Vipera nikolskii Vedmederya, Grubant & Rudajewa, 1986

Taxonomic Description

This viper species, Vipera nikolskii, was formally described by Vedmederya, Grubant & Rudajewa in 1986.

Adult Morphology

Adult Vipera nikolskii are short with thick bodies, reaching a maximum total length including the tail of 680 mm (27 in).

Holotype Information

According to Golay et al. (1993), the holotype of this species is ZDKU 14704.

General Distribution

Vipera nikolskii is distributed across Central Ukraine and southwestern Russia.

Ukraine Distribution Details

Mallow et al. (2003) note that this species' distribution is concentrated in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine's Kharkiv region.

Type Locality

Per Golay et al. (1993), the species' type locality is the banks of the Uda River, located between Besljudovka and Vasishtshevo near Kharkiv.

Romania and Moldova Records

Recent surveys by Zinenko et al. (2010) and Strugariu & Zamfirescu (2008) have recorded Vipera nikolskii in eastern and southern Romania, as well as in Basarabia, Republic of Moldova.

Slovakia Distribution Record

The species has also recently been found on a ridge in the Low Tatras, Slovakia.