Viperidae
Synonyms
Adder, European
Adders, European
Asp
Asps
Azemiopinae
Bitis
Bushmaster
Bushmasters
Cerastes
Crotalid
Crotalids
European Adder
European Adders
European Viper
European Vipers
Gaboon Viper
Gaboon Vipers
Lachesis
True Viper
True Vipers
Viper, European
Viper, Gaboon
Viper, True
Viperinae
Vipers, European
Vipers, Gaboon
Vipers, True
A family of snakes comprising three subfamilies: Azemiopinae (the mountain viper, the sole member of this subfamily), Viperinae (true vipers), and Crotalinae (pit vipers). They are widespread throughout the world, being found in the United States, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Their venoms act on the blood (hemotoxic) as compared to the venom of elapids which act on the nervous system (neurotoxic). (Goin, Goin, and Zug, Introduction to Herpetology, 3d ed, pp333-36)
See Also