The specific namelatastei, is in honor of Boscà's French colleague, herpetologistFernand Lataste,[7] who would a year later return him the honor, by naming after him a discovery of his own, Boscá's newt (Lissotriton boscai ).
V. latastei grows to a maximum total length (including tail) of about 72 cm (28.3 in), but usually less.[3] It is grey in colour, has a triangular head, a "horn" on the tip of its nose, and a zig-zag pattern on its back.[8] The tip of the tail is yellow.
The species V. latastei was classified as Near Threatened (NT) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001), and from 2008 is recognised as Vulnerable (VU). It is listed as such because it is probably in significant decline (but likely at a rate of less than 30% over ten years) due to widespread habitat loss and persecution throughout much of its range, thus making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable. Further population reduction is expected, but is not likely to exceed 30% over the next 10 years, but localized extinctions in parts of its range are possible (e.g., Tunisia, Spain).[1]
It is also listed as a strictly protected species (Appendix II) under the Berne Convention.[10]
^ abcdMcDiarmid 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).
^ abcdMallow 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.
^United States Navy (1991). Poisonous Snakes of the World. New York: US Government / Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN0-486-26629-X.
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 312 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Vipera latasti [sic]", p. 151).
Arnold EN, Burton JA (1978). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. London: Collins. 272 pp. ISBN0-00-219318-3. ("Vipera latasti [sic]", pp. 219, 222 + Plate 40 + Map 124).
Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the ... Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. ("Vipera latastii [sic]", pp. 484–485).
Boscá E (1878). "Note sur une forme nouvelle ou peu connue de vipère ". Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France3: 116–121. ("Vipera Latasti [sic]", new species, p. 121). (in French).
Mertens R, Müller L (1928). "Liste der amphibien und reptilien Europas ". Abh. Senckenb. Naturf. Ges.45: 1–62. (in German).