Snakes of Turkey

Venemous snakes of Turkey

There appear to be some 12-13 species of venomous snakes in Turkey - from this forum

Macrovipera lebetina* (Linnaeus, 1758) (Levantine Viper, Koca Engerek [in Turk.]),
Montivipera xanthina (Gray, 1849) (Ottoman Viper, Turkish Viper, Seritli Engerek[in Turk]),
Montivipera raddei (Boettger, 1890) (Radde’s Viper, Armenian Viper, Agri Engeregi [in Turk]),
Montivipera wagneri Nilson & Andren, 1984 (Wagner’s Viper, Wagner Engeregi [in Turk.]),
Montivipera albizona Nilson & Andren, 1990 (Central Turkish Mountain Viper),
Montivipera bulgardaghica Nilson & Andren 1985 (BolkarDagh Viper, Bolkar Engeregi [in Turk.]),
Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) (Horned Viper, Sand Viper, Boynuzlu Engerek [in Turk.]),
Vipera transcaucasiana** Boulenger, 1913 (Transcaucasian Sand Viper),
Vipera (Pelias) barani Böhme & Joger, 1984 (Baran Engere?i - Baran’s Adder), Vipera (Pelias) kaznakovi Nikolsky, 1909 (Kafkas Engere?i - Caucasus Viper), Eilson & Sattler, 1990 (Çoruh Engere?i - Pontic Adder),
Vipera (Acridophaga) anatolica*** Eiselt & Baran, 1970, Vipera (Acridophaga) eriwanensis*** (Reuss, 1933),

Walterinnesia morgani* (Mocquard, 1905) (Desert Black Cobra Vipera (Pelias) pontica

Malpolon monspessulanus* (Hermann, 1804) (Montpellier Snake, Çukur Basli Yilan [in Turk.]) (An opisthoglyphous snake and not dangerous to man)

VENOMOUS SNAKE BITES IN TURKEY FIRST AID AND TREATMENT Most accidental bites usually occur whenever a snake is encountered and does not have time or space to slip away. Generally, the victims were found to be bitten in the fields for example when harvesting grapes in our region. So everyone must be aware of potential dangers posed by venomous snakes when camp, hike, picnic, work or live in snake-inhabited areas. Snake bites still cause significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Geographically the climate of southeast region of Turkey is arid and contains mostly vipers as most venomous snakes

See also these links

See also this list

European part: Vipera ammodytes meridionalis, Vipera ammodytes montandoni, Vipera xanthina.

Asian part:

-Vipera albizona
-Vipera barani
-Vipera bulgardaghica
-Vipera (ursinii) eriwanensis
-Vipera kaznakovi
-Vipera pontica
-Vipera raddei
-Vipera raddei kurdistanica
-Vipera (ammodytes) transcaucasiana
-Vipera wagneri
-Vipera xanthina

(-Macrovipera lebetina lebetina)? Around Adana
-Macrovipera lebetina “euphratica”
-Macrovipera lebetina obtusa

Possible species occuring in Turkey:

-Vipera palestinae
-Vipera darevskii
-Pseudocerastes persicus
-Echis (carinatus) pyramidium (Most unlikely)

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