Nose-Horned Viper Ammodytes

The Nose-Horned Viper is widely regarded as the most dangerous and most venomous snake in Europe due to its relatively large size, potent venom, and frequent proximity to humans in rocky Balkan terrain.

It is instantly recognizable by the small, soft, upturned scale at the tip of its snout, unique among European vipers.

• Medium-sized, robust viper with a soft, fleshy horn on the snout tip
• Grey, brown, or reddish background with a dark zigzag dorsal band
• Distinct triangular head clearly set off from a narrow neck
• Vertical, cat-like pupils
• The nasal horn readily separates it from other European vipers such as the Adder or Meadow Viper

Rocky hillsides, dry stone walls, scrubland, and open woodland edges across the Balkans, parts of Italy, Austria, and into the Middle East, from lowlands up to around 2,000 m.

Diurnal in cooler months, becoming more crepuscular in hot summer weather. Feeds on small mammals, lizards, and birds. Ambush predator relying on camouflage among rocks. Viviparous, giving birth to live young in late summer or autumn.