MSc Student (Adv. Günter Gollmann)

Unit for Theoretical Biology, Department of Evolutionary Biology
University of Vienna

Abstract

The nose-horned viper Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) is a widespread southern European snake species distributed from northernmost Italy, southern Austria through the Balkan Peninsula and also the Caucasus Mountains. Among the European vipers, the European horned viper has one of the strongest venoms. This species shows massive population declines. The main problems are loss of suitable habitats due to afforestation as well as decimation due to illegal capture for terrarium keeping. Action is needed to preserve the remaining habitats and to enforce legal protection.

An introduced nose-horned viper population has been suspected in the area of Winzendorf (Lower Austria) for a long time. In 2020 the scientific staff of the museum surveyed the area and found several individuals. The findings indicate an introduced population. The aim of this study is to record the population status of Vipera ammodytes within a selected area in Lower Austria. The animals will be caught, weighed, photographed and sexed. Furthermore, the accompanying fauna (herpetofauna) will be documented and habitat analyses will be performed. In addition, the captured snakes are examined for the snake fungus (Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola). Hereby we support the "snake fungus project" of Gaelle Blanvillain (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) in the context of her dissertation.