# Nose-horned Viper (*Vipera ammodytes*) The Nose-horned Viper is a special snake with a little horn on its nose! It has beautiful patterns on its skin and is mostly found in warm places. This snake is shy and likes to hide among rocks and bushes. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 4/5 · High - **Habitat:** Mountain regions - **Also known as:** Horned Viper ![Nose-horned Viper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Vipera_ammodytes_070901_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: BS Thurner Hof, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vipera_ammodytes_070901_1.jpg) ## Appearance The Nose-horned Viper has a distinctive, soft, upward-pointing "horn" on its snout, making it easily recognizable. Its body color varies from grey to reddish-brown, typically displaying a prominent dark zig-zag pattern along its back and dark V-shaped head markings. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Viperidae - **Genus:** Vipera ## Interesting facts - Nose-horned Vipers give birth to live baby snakes, not laying eggs like many others! - These sneaky snakes can sometimes climb into low bushes to bask in the sun! - They are considered Europe's most venomous snake, making them super dangerous! - This viper has a soft, flexible "horn" on its nose, not a hard bone! ## Special abilities - **Horned Sensor:** Nose-horned Viper has a unique, flexible 'horn' on its snout that helps it sense vibrations and navigate its rocky habitat. - **Potent Venom Strike:** Nose-horned Viper can deliver a powerful hemotoxic venom through its fangs that quickly immobilizes its prey. - **Stealthy Camouflage:** Nose-horned Viper has patterned skin that helps it blend perfectly into rocky surroundings, allowing it to ambush prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-100 cm - **Weight:** 0.1-0.3 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-18 years - **Speed:** 7 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-15 ## Diet & Feeding Eats small mammals, birds, and lizards, striking quickly with venom. - **Age differences:** Young mainly eat small lizards and insects, while adults hunt larger prey. - **Primary Foods:** Rodents, Small birds, Lizards, Other snakes - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [House Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse) (*Mus musculus*) — A common rodent prey item for the viper. - **Hunts:** [Common Wall Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-wall-lizard) (*Podarcis muralis*) — Frequently preyed upon, especially by younger vipers. - **Eaten by:** Short-toed Snake Eagle (*Circaetus gallicus*) — A specialized raptor that preys on snakes, including vipers. - **Hunts:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Small birds are sometimes part of an adult viper's diet. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Horned](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/horned): Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Venomous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/venomous): Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 4/5 · High If you see a snake, it's best to stay back and watch from a distance. Never try to touch or pick it up. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Nose-horned Viper? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Nose-horned Viper? 60-100 cm ### How much does Nose-horned Viper weigh? 0.1-0.3 kg ### How long does Nose-horned Viper live? 10-18 years ### How fast can Nose-horned Viper move? 7 km/h ### What does Nose-horned Viper eat? Eats small mammals, birds, and lizards, striking quickly with venom. ### Where is Nose-horned Viper usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Nose-horned Viper hunt? Ambush ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Nose-horned Viper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nose-horned-viper)