Vipera Aspis Francisciredi/Italian Viper

Laurenti 1768

Here is a sub-specie of the Viper Aspis, the Francisciredi can be found mainly in Italy, south Switzerland and is particular for the additional white of the lines on the sides of the head, irregular patterns and orange color and the head is usually wider posteriorly. You can mistake it for an Aspis or Atra but once you see closer the differences are clear, I even noticed a little yellow on the tail of the 2nd specimen I found, a little nose appears too but is not very pronounced. Melanistic specimens can be find in this sub-specie.

First specimen discovered 

You can notice it is pregnant 

The notable addition of white on the side

The typical orange one

Here we can see the back of the head is wider than other Aspis

Here we have the complete details of the fragmented patterns, this is very common on the Francisciredi specimens.
It was also a BIG female pregnant, approx. 60cm

The yellow colored tail is the 1st thing I noticed when I discovered it.