Razi’s Viper — Fact Sheet
Macrovipera razii · Razi’s Viper
📋 At a glance
| Adult size | 100-150 cm |
| Lifespan | Insufficient species-specific data |
| Subspecies | Retain locality and parentage |
| Origin | See the locality-specific map and climate in the full guide |
| Activity | Cathemeral |
| Difficulty | Expert |
| Legal | No specific CITES or EU wildlife-trade listing was found for this species. Its native range is outside the Bern Convention’s European protection context. Absence from these trade lists does not establish lawful export or possession. |
🏠 Enclosure
One adult: 180 × 90 × 75 cm as a practical starting enclosure, enlarged for the actual animal. Relative humidity 40–60%, with fresh water, local moisture and dry resting areas. Locked enclosure and room, a secure isolation compartment, protected servicing and separate quarantine for at least 90 days.
🌡️ Temperature
Provisional active-season targets, not proven optima or safety limits. Outdoor climate averages are not enclosure settings; seasonal changes require the documented origin and veterinary review.
- Basking spot: 29-32 °C
- Warm zone: 22-27 °C
- Cool zone: 20-24 °C
- Night: 18-22 °C
🪳 Feeding
The original field study directly recorded bird prey, including see-see partridge; do not present rodents as the only natural food. For established animals accepting commercially bred whole rodents or appropriate birds, modest thawed meals every 14–21 days are a provisional adult starting point, with smaller juvenile meals often every 7–10 days. Confirm the breeder’s actual diet, track body condition and avoid oversized rats or routine overfeeding. Whole-prey variety must remain nutritionally balanced.
🩺 Health — warning signs
Persistent exposed resting or attempts to escape the warm zone warrant an immediate temperature check. Wheezing, bubbles or open-mouth breathing suggest respiratory disease; abnormal belly scales may indicate dermatitis. Repeated poor sheds, regurgitation, weight loss or abnormal faeces require a reptile veterinarian to distinguish dehydration, dietary problems, parasites and other illness. Do not deworm or restrain a venomous snake yourself; arrange secure professional transport.
☠️ Venom
Bite severity varies; a small wound or an apparently dry bite does not exclude delayed envenoming.
A large Macrovipera bite can cause severe envenoming. Comparative genus evidence includes progressive swelling, tissue injury, disturbed clotting, bleeding, shock and kidney injury. Direct razii clinical data are sparse; do not promise the same syndrome or antivenom response as M. lebetina. Arrange specialist advice for the documented species and origin before acquisition.
Call emergency services immediately, keep the person still, remove rings and tight items, and support the limb without compression. Do not cut, suck, apply ice or a tourniquet, or delay transport to capture the snake. Establish receiving-hospital and poison-centre arrangements before acquisition. Antivenom selection and administration belong to clinicians.