L. Forró szerk.: Miscellanea Zoologica Hungarica 8. 1993 (Budapest, 1993)

Janisch, M.: A mutant form of the meadow viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis Méhely) from Hungary with a peculiar colour pattern

ations of the meadow viper in order to clarify the present situation and to evaluate the necessary conservation measures. Five members of the Conservation Committee (incl. Chairman Keith Corbett) returned on the 25th of April, 1987. Between 26th April and 3rd May altogether 12 persons (incl. young and enthusiastic Hungarian herpetologists) participated in the survey. According to the program compiled by the Hungarian side, the well-known old habitats and possible new ones, the original biotopes and the ones destroyed were all surveyed: from Northeast of Budapest to the South to Tázlár in the Kiskunság National Park between the rivers Danube and Tisza. The Sanctuary has also been visited again, together with some other meadows in the Hanság. Our survey was disturbed by the cold, windy weather in the beginning, later, however, the sudden and early warm period resulted in severe success, among others three new localities of Ablepharus kitaibelii fitzingeri Mertens were found. Having investigated three big areas South of Budapest, 9 specimens of V. u. rakosiensis were found altogether. While one day we found 4 vipers in the DabasGyón area, the next day the whole meadow was in fire following the every-spring activity of the shepards. Evidences were found of burnt lizards (Lacerta agilis), and a nest of the strictly protected curlew (Numenius arquata), other pairs of waders left the area before breeding. A dead V. u. rakosiensis specimen has also been found, probably killed by a raptor. On the 2nd of May, 1987, under a sky covered with thin clouds, on a large meadow with the grass Chrysopogon gryllus, a female Vipera ursinii rakosiensis has been found with an extraordinary, peculiar colour pattern. Description of the mutant meadow viper form Total length: 560 mm; tail length: 55 mm. Weight: 116gr. Colouration slightly greenish grey. Dorsal scale keels are blackish, hence the animal's appearance is tabby. ("Hairy snake" is a widespread name on the Great Hungarian Plane for the normally coloured meadow viper.) The most striking character is the missing dorsal band, which is in the normal specimens usually wide, grass-yellow, having a brown, black margined, zic-zac stripe in it. The greyish base colour in the specimen at hand turns into yellowishgrey at the hind third of body. Head length/head width ratio 14:10. Dorsal scutes on the head are arranged in complete agreement with the normal meadow vipers. The only asymmetric feature is the presence of three small scales separating the right scutum supraoculare from the scutum frontale, whereas on the left side only one elongated scutellum is present. This character can clearly be observed also on the fresh shedding. Eye is shiny, bronze brown, pupil is a vertical slit. Head is dorsally provided with a dark grey, Y-shaped mark on a pale greyish background. A similar sign can often be seen on the specimens of Vipera berus. Normal Vu. rakosiensis specimens show usually an H-shaped mark. The specimen at hand lacks also a black stripe connecting the eye with the ear region, which is characteristic for the normally coloured meadow vipers. Behind the branches of the "Y" mark in the occipital region a series of small, black, double spots - like equation marks - are situated on the dorsal side of the neck, however, the short lines are slipped along each other from the fifth, becoming larger on the dorsal side until the hind third of the specimen. In general