What is this snake

Question

I took a picture of this snake in Switzerland (Geneva Area):

Snake

It looks to be an adder but cannot be sure about which species.

In Switzerland we have two kinds of adder:

For me it looks like a Vipera berus, but all the images I saw from both species (and the variations) I cannot be sure.

amazing that you stood long enough to take a picture of an unknown snake.. I would be running my lungs out.. — The Last Word, Commented May 23, 2014 at 4:29
I was at reasonable distance and with a 70-200mm it helps. But yes I recognised an adder (lightly venomous) but I know they are quiet as long you don't go next to them. — рüффп, Commented May 23, 2014 at 6:49
An generally speaking, snakes in Europe tends to escape before attacking — рüффп, Commented May 23, 2014 at 6:50
I'm not an expert so don't feel qualified to answer, but a bit of reading suggests to me that it is Vipera aspis because the head looks rather broad and there is no clear dorsal zigzag. — Alan Boyd, Commented May 23, 2014 at 10:01

Devashish Das · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-15 18:29:27Z

7

I think it's an Vipera Aspis.

from wikipedia:

The dorsal markings vary strongly, but only rarely take the form of a clear zigzag, as in V. berus.

enter image description here

Your Snake in Maximum RGB Color (Broken ZigZag)

enter image description here

Vipera Aspis from Google Image

answered Jul 15, 2014 at 18:29

Devashish Das

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$\begingroup$ Thanks for your answer. After searching about the repartition of both snakes around Geneva, I found these maps that confirm vipera berus is not present in Geneva area as vipera aspis is $\endgroup$
– рüффп
Commented Jul 16, 2014 at 22:47

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