A 130 km westward range extension of Montivipera xanthina (Serpentes, Viperidae) in mainland Greece

The Ottoman viper ( Montivipera xanthina ) was previously known to occur only as far west as the Rodopi Prefecture, Greece. Here, we report a newly discovered population in the Drama Prefecture, extending the species’ known range approximately 130 km westward. The population was confirmed through field surveys, during which several individuals were recorded. Habitat analysis suggests that this population is more likely part of a previously undocumented, continuous range, facilitated by suitable ecological corridors. Our findings underscore the underexplored biodiversity of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and highlight the need for further herpetological surveys in the region. This range extension has important implications for conservation planning, biodiversity assessment, and public health preparedness.