This subspecies is not known to exceed 1 m (3.3 ft) in total length (body + tail). It is further distinguished by having only 25 midbody dorsal scale rows, a lower ventral scale count of 150-164 scales, and more fragmented head scales. The color pattern is light gray with 34-41 dark transverse bars which are each 2-3 scales wide.[3]
It is found only in North Africa, where it is restricted to the coastal mountains of Algeria and Tunis.[4] One of the few specific localities where it is known to occur is Djebel Murdjaro near Oran in western Algeria.[3] This subspecies may be sympatric with M. deserti and/or D. mauritanica.[4]
^McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN1-893777-01-4 (volume).
^ abSpawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Books. Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN0-88359-029-8.
^ abMallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN0-89464-877-2.
Nilson G, Andrén C. 1988. Vipera lebetina transmediterranea, a new subspecies of viper from North Africa, with remarks on the taxonomy of Vipera lebetina and Vipera mauritanica (Reptilia: Viperidae). Bonn zool. Beitr.39 (4): 371-379.
