A 130 km westward range extension of Montivipera xanthina (Serpentes, Viperidae) in mainland Greece
The Ottoman viper (Montivipera xanthina) was previously known to occur only as far west as the Rodopi Prefecture, Greece. Here, we report a newly discovered population in the Drama Prefecture, extending the species’ known range approximately 130 km westward. The population was confirmed through fiel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Herpetozoa |
| Online Access: | https://herpetozoa.pensoft.net/article/161288/download/pdf/ |
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| author | Ilias Strachinis Dionisios Iakovidis Nikolaos Gogolos Athanasios Papagoras Thomas Daftsios |
| author_facet | Ilias Strachinis Dionisios Iakovidis Nikolaos Gogolos Athanasios Papagoras Thomas Daftsios |
| author_sort | Ilias Strachinis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Ottoman viper (Montivipera xanthina) was previously known to occur only as far west as the Rodopi Prefecture, Greece. Here, we report a newly discovered population in the Drama Prefecture, extending the species’ known range approximately 130 km westward. The population was confirmed through field surveys, during which several individuals were recorded. Habitat analysis suggests that this population is more likely part of a previously undocumented, continuous range, facilitated by suitable ecological corridors. Our findings underscore the underexplored biodiversity of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and highlight the need for further herpetological surveys in the region. This range extension has important implications for conservation planning, biodiversity assessment, and public health preparedness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-29d49c45f5cf48ed92a306b9787cc4e2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2682-955X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Herpetozoa |
| spelling | doaj-art-29d49c45f5cf48ed92a306b9787cc4e22025-08-20T03:44:35ZengPensoft PublishersHerpetozoa2682-955X2025-08-013818719010.3897/herpetozoa.38.e161288161288A 130 km westward range extension of Montivipera xanthina (Serpentes, Viperidae) in mainland GreeceIlias Strachinis0Dionisios Iakovidis1Nikolaos Gogolos2Athanasios Papagoras3Thomas Daftsios4Aristotle University of ThessalonikiAristotle University of ThessalonikiAristotle University of ThessalonikiAristotle University of ThessalonikiAristotle University of ThessalonikiThe Ottoman viper (Montivipera xanthina) was previously known to occur only as far west as the Rodopi Prefecture, Greece. Here, we report a newly discovered population in the Drama Prefecture, extending the species’ known range approximately 130 km westward. The population was confirmed through field surveys, during which several individuals were recorded. Habitat analysis suggests that this population is more likely part of a previously undocumented, continuous range, facilitated by suitable ecological corridors. Our findings underscore the underexplored biodiversity of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and highlight the need for further herpetological surveys in the region. This range extension has important implications for conservation planning, biodiversity assessment, and public health preparedness.https://herpetozoa.pensoft.net/article/161288/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Ilias Strachinis Dionisios Iakovidis Nikolaos Gogolos Athanasios Papagoras Thomas Daftsios A 130 km westward range extension of Montivipera xanthina (Serpentes, Viperidae) in mainland Greece Herpetozoa |
| title | A 130 km westward range extension of Montivipera xanthina (Serpentes, Viperidae) in mainland Greece |
| title_full | A 130 km westward range extension of Montivipera xanthina (Serpentes, Viperidae) in mainland Greece |
| title_fullStr | A 130 km westward range extension of Montivipera xanthina (Serpentes, Viperidae) in mainland Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | A 130 km westward range extension of Montivipera xanthina (Serpentes, Viperidae) in mainland Greece |
| title_short | A 130 km westward range extension of Montivipera xanthina (Serpentes, Viperidae) in mainland Greece |
| title_sort | 130 km westward range extension of montivipera xanthina serpentes viperidae in mainland greece |
| url | https://herpetozoa.pensoft.net/article/161288/download/pdf/ |
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