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A Real Rarety


A Real Rarety
Photo Information
Copyright: Alex Strugariu (Alex_Strugariu) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 124 W: 0 N: 174] (649)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07
Categories: Reptiles
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-08-02 15:02
Viewed: 1414
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Vipera ursinii moldavica - The Moldavian Steppe Viper

Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes (Ophidia)
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Vipera
Species: V.ursinii

Vipera ursinii is the smallest and the most endangered viper species in Europe. The largest subspecies only reach about 60cm in lenght.

Vipera ursinii moldavica is the rarest and the most endangered subspecies of the rarest and most engangered species. Actualy, the moldavian steppe viper is the rarest snake in Europe and is endemic to Romania. It can only be found in a single place, the "Valea lui David" Natural Reserve in Iasi County, Romania, where only about 100 individuals exist.
This is exactly where I photographed this guy(or gall).

It can reach a maximum lenght of 50cm but avareges at around 35-45.

MAting takes place in april-may and the babies (around 10) are born in august-september.

They mostly feed on large insects and small lizards.

Even if they are small, they are venomous and will bite, trust me. These guys are the nastiest biting machines I have faced so far. It`s a good thing they`re small and have a small quantity of venom, enough to kill a lizard :)

Even if this photo is not that good I still am happy to be one of the few people in the world that had the chanse to see this snake in the wild and take photos of it.

Thanks you for viewing...
horia, Alain_cdn, Hil, parvulescubio, lebois, chrish, cosmln, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Xplorator: :)Alex_Strugariu 2 08-03 05:22
To parvulescubio: agitated vipers :PAlex_Strugariu 1 08-03 03:02
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 705 W: 13 N: 1405] (5027)
  • [2006-08-02 17:41]

Hi Alex

Excellent shot of this Viper, I like the POV, and sharp detail, the colours are very natural and show how well the Snake blends into the vegatation, I would have missed it.

TFS Hilary

ai fotografiat un animal superb Alex, si intr-adevar ai prima sansa in a o gasi.
De ce spui "trust me" ? era foarte agitata?

Merci for sharring...
Lucian.

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2169 W: 218 N: 4382] (14898)
  • [2006-08-03 3:54]
  • [2]

Indeed a rarety!
I'm hoping to get the chance and see it next year...:)
Great POV, good sharpness, lovely colors and nice contrast. Also excellent close-up, considering that this is a venomous species.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Salut Alex
Well done for posting a photo of this endangered snake. You are lucky to have spotted it! The details are good and the photo shows how well the snake is camouflaged.
Amicalement
Morag

Mean looking reptile, A. ! Never seen one, but that is only natural reading your comments. I never been to Moldavian side of Romania first of all. I want to thank you for bringing some outstanding images of the Romanian fauna.
Daca ai posibilitatea fotografiaza, rasi, ursi, dropii, salamandre, zimbri sau enoti. Si fazani, toti aici am ramas de fazani (sau mai degraba fara de fazani).

Beautiful shot. Great note. Hopefully these little vipers willbe protected so that the 100 that are left can sustain the population.

sal' Alex,

chiar este o frumusete, poate cand mai reusesc sa ajung in moldova imi fac timp mai mult si sa va vizitez... ma refer si la vipera :).

i'm sure that this is not a bad image, in my oppinion is good, very good.
TFS,
cosmln

Hello Alex!
I just started to watch your photos with more attantion ;> Thanks to that I found this amazing snake subspecies. It is really fantastic animal! I have never seen not only the subspecies moldavica but - unfortunatelly, even the nominative form... :( I hope to do it this year :)
According to the picture I have to say that this portrait is really nice to me :)
Best greetings,
Radomir

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