An Updated Overview of the Distribution of the Moldavian Steppe Viper (Vipera ursinii moldavica Nilson, Andrén et Joger, 1993)

László Krecsák, Ştefan Zamfirescu, Zoltán Korsós

Abstract


We give an overview of the current distribution of Vipera ursinii moldavica. Until 2000 just one small population was known to survive in the «Valea lui David» Natural Reserve, Iaşi District, Romania. We surveyed the habitats in the Iaşi District, in May and September 2000 and March 2001, where this snake was formerly reported: Tomeşti and the surroundings of Româneşti, Avântul, and Ursoaia. In the surroundings of Româneşti, Avântul and Ursoaia we found the viper in two sites, Ciritei and Holm, in the proximity of a small hill informally called «Dealul lui Dumnezeu», where Vancea et al. had recorded the subspecies in 1985. V. u. moldavica has probably disappeared from Tomeşti (Iaşi District), Tecuci (Galaţi District), Horlăceni and Călăraşi (Botoşani District). The results of a short survey, from 1997, in the «Valea lui David» Natural Reserve are also presented. Based on a field survey (1998) in the Republic of Moldova, the survival of V. u. moldavica cannot be confirmed there. In this paper we describe the newly discovered habitats, and provide morphometric data for the captured specimens. An updated distribution map of the subspecies is provided.

Keywords


Vipera ursinii moldavica; Moldova – Romania; Republic of Moldova; habitat description; morphometrics; distribution

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2003-10-3-199-206

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