Jeroen Speybroeck wrote:Mario Schweiger wrote:There are some nice Vipera
aspis aspis pics in your threat Aspis Atra
Depends on your subspecies definition, Mario. The traditional definition states that subspecies are geographical morphs, so there is no need for molecular evidence. Of course, it has been argued that this definition is outdated, but it's not necessarily wrong to maintain atra, regardless of our personal sentiment on the matter.
Sure!
But you have to bear in mind the climatic circumstances "a few thousend" years ago. No viper species has been able to live in the higher altitudes in the Alps. So they came from "lowlands" to the mountains after the last iceage again. Differences in color/pattern and a bit in pholidosis depends on bottle-neck effect.
Another example: The Bolzano-ammodytes. Is it a ssp. or not?
Is it a substrate morph? NO, the light grey color envolved during the time, they expanded their range from - lets say Veneto - to Alto Adige, while staying on light colored limestone. For this habitat type they are adapted best, not for the darkred Porphyr rocks
Mario