Asp viper (Vispera aspis): This is a mountain-dwelling snake of central Europe that lives in the same territory for its whole life, inhabiting dry stony slopes or open mountain meadows. It hibernates in rocky crevices or caves and emerges in spring to mate. The young eat lizards and insects, but the adults mainly hunt small mammals. The asp viper is active all day in spring and autumn, but spends the hottest periods of summer shaded beneath a stone. The subspecies found in Sicily (Vipera aspis hugyi) is usually a reddish colour, with a distinctive zipper pattern down its back, and a triangular head. The venom of the asp viper is potent and could kill you if you tried to handle it.