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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Adults average 40-50 cm in length, although specimens of 63-80 cm have been reported.
Geographic range
Southeastern France, eastern Austria (extinct), Hungary, central Italy, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, northern and northeastern Albania, Romania, northern Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, northwestern Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia and across the Khazakstan, Kirgizia and eastern Uzbekistan steppes to China (Xinjiang). The type locality given is " ... monti dell' Abruzzo prossimi alla provincia d'Ascoli... " (mountains of Abruzzi, Ascoli Province, Italy).
This species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: A1c+2c (v2.3, 1994).[5] This indicates an observed, estimated, inferred or suspected population reduction of at least 80% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, based on a decline in area of occupancy, extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat. For the same reason, a population reduction of at least 80% is projected or suspected to be met within the next 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer. Year assessed: 1996.
In addition, this species is listed on CITES Appendix I, which means that it is threatened with extinction if trade is not halted, and is a strictly protected species (Appendix II) under the Berne Convention.
There is high genetic diversity within samples of V. ursinii and several species may be involved. At least six subspecies may be encountered in modern literature:
V. u. ursinii - Bonaparte, 1835
V. u. eriwanensis - Reuss, 1933
V. u. rakosiensis - Méhely, 1893
V. u. renardi - Christoph, 1861
V. u. moldavica - Nilson, Andrén & Joger, 1993
V. u. graeca - Nilson & Andrén, 1988 |
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