Viperinae

Viperinae
	Chain viper, Daboia elegans, a viperine
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Viperinae; Oppel, 1811
Synonyms
	Viperini Oppel, 1811; Viperes Cuvier, 1817; Viperides Latreille, 1825; Viperina Gray, 1825; Viperiodea Fitzinger, 1826; Viperiodei Eichwald, 1831; Viperinae Cantor, 1847; Viperiformes Günther, 1864; Viperida Strauch, 1869; Atherini Broadley, 1996;

The Viperinae, or Viperines, are a subfamily of venomous Vipers in Europe, Asia and Africa.There are 12 genera and 66 species in this subfamily. Most are tropical and subtropical, although one species, the Vipera berus, even lives within the Arctic Circle.

Description[change | change source]

Members of this subfamily range in size from the Namaqua Dwarf Adder, that grows to a maximum of 28 cm, to the Gaboon Viper that reaches a maximum length of over 2 m. Most species live on land, but a few, such as Atheris, live in trees.

Where they live[change | change source]

The Viperinae are found in Europe, Asia and Africa, but they are not found in Madagascar.

Reproduction[change | change source]

Most of the members of this subfamily are viviparous (ovoviviparous), meaning they give live birth, although a few, such as the Persian Horned viper, lay eggs.