berus

Berus is best known in biology as the specific epithet in the binomial name Vipera berus, the common European viper. In taxonomic usage, berus does not denote a separate genus or species by itself; it identifies the species within the genus Vipera, family Viperidae. Vipera berus is a venomous snake native to Europe and northern Asia, with a distribution that extends from the British Isles and Scandinavia eastward to the Ural Mountains and across parts of northern and central Asia.

Description and variability are notable in Vipera berus. It is a medium-sized viper, commonly reaching up to about 60 cm in length, and it shows extensive color and pattern variation. Adults typically display a characteristic zigzag dorsal pattern, though coloration can vary by geography, age, and season. The head is distinctly triangular, and the body is stout for a pit viper of its size.

Habitat and behavior vary across its range. Vipera berus occupies woodlands, heaths, bogs, meadows, and other open habitats with ample cover. It is primarily terrestrial and often takes shelter in leaf litter or under debris, basking to regulate temperature. The species hibernates through winter in communal dens in many parts of its range.

Diet consists mainly of small mammals, lizards, and birds. Vipera berus is ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young after a gestation period that can last several months; litters typically range from a few to a couple of dozen neonates.

Conservation status is generally Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting its wide distribution and relatively stable populations, although regional habitat loss and fragmentation can pose local threats.