Distribution of three Vipera species in the Republic of Serbia

Abstract

records (79.8%), followed by V. berus with 145 records (18.8%), and V. ursinii with 11 records (1.4%). Results of the present study showed that in our country there are three areas crucially important for the diversity of vipers, with all three species present: Koritnik Mt. and Žljeb Mt. in Metohija, as well as Mokra Gora Mt. in south-western Serbia. We also found 25 10×10 km UTM squares with sympatry of two species of vipers. The designation of areas of special importance for vipers (e.g. Mokra Gora Mt., Dukat Mt., Besna kobila Mt., Kamena Gora Mt.) should be one of the priority actions for improvement of their conservation statuses in our country.

Analysis of the venomous snakebite patients treated in the Uzice General Hospital (Western Serbia) between 2006 and 2018

“…According to expert opinion (obtained before the publication of exact localities where the adders were recorded), bites by adders were possible in only 40 (16.1%) cases. However, when we compared the reported localities of bites by "adders" with the published [1] UTM squares where adders were recorded (eight in total, in four together with V. ammodytes), no overlap was found. Nevertheless, we cannot exclude the possibility that adders are present in certain places that are still formally unknown.…”

“…As in other countries of former Yugoslavia (except Slovenia), only three autochthonous venomous snake species exist in Serbia, Vipera ammodytes (nose-horned viper), V. berus (adder), and V. ursinii (meadow viper), and all are protected by law [1]. To the best of our knowledge, in the surroundings of the city of Užice (Western Serbia, 43.859° N, 19.849° E, 10×10 km Universal Transverse Mercator, UTM square DP05), only the nose-horned viper can be found [1 provides occurrence maps and lists of localities].…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, in the surroundings of the city of Užice (Western Serbia, 43.859° N, 19.849° E, 10×10 km Universal Transverse Mercator, UTM square DP05), only the nose-horned viper can be found [1 provides occurrence maps and lists of localities]. The nearest localities (UTM squares in brackets) in South-western and Western Serbia where the presence of adder was confirmed [1] or where suitable habitats exist (boreal forest or/and alpine pastures), are the mountains Zlatibor (CP74, along with V. ammodytes), Zlatar, Golija (DP20), Javor (DP21, with V. ammodytes), Kamena Gora (CN89, with V. ammodytes), and Jadovnik (DN09, with V. ammodytes) [1]. The third viper species was found only in remote places in the southwestern margin of the country, at altitudes over 1,600 m [1].…”

What do mountaineers and their guides in Serbia know about venomous snakes: A pilot questionnaire analysis

“…Numerous people who were not spending time out of the cities earlier started travelling to more or less "wild" parts of our country, often without proper preparation (corresponding to our Clusters 2 and 3). To adventure tourists especially attractive are high mountains, many with gorges and canyons -which are often populated by venomous snakes (Vujadinović et al, 2013;Tomović et al, 2019).…”

“…All snake species in Serbia are protected by law, nine (10) strictly (including two of the three vipers) (Tomović et al, 2015). The largest and potentially the most dangerous of the vipers is widely distributed in Serbia (nosehorned/sand viper, Vipera ammodytes); the second (adder, V. berus) can be found in several both high-mountain (common knowledge) and lowland habitats (the fact that many are not aware of), and the third (meadow viper, V. ursinii) is extremely rare and restricted to only a few localities in high mountains at the margins of our country and in several other places (Tomović et al, 2019;Lakušić et al 2022). Despite their rarity and secretive lifestyle, all three can be encountered by (inexperienced) people.…”