_b._ A single anterior temporal; nostril in a single nasal; scales smooth, with single apical pits, in 17 rows; ventrals 150-191; subcaudals 53-78 _Contia modesta._ 3. Scales longitudinally grooved in the adult, in 17 or 19 rows; two loreals; canthus rostralis strongly marked; frontal very narrow, in contact with the preocular; ventrals 160-189; subcaudals 68-102 _Coelopeltis monspessulana._ _B._ Pupil vertical or vertically subelliptic (sometimes appearing round in _Macroprotodon_). 1. Scales smooth, mostly with single apical pits; upper surface of head with nine large shields. Frontal 1-1/2 to 2 times as long as broad; loreal separated from the eye by the preocular; one upper labial usually in contact with the parietal; scales in 19 to 23 (rarely 25) rows; ventrals 153-192; anal divided; subcaudals 40-54 _Macroprotodon cucullatus._ Frontal 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 times as long as broad, much shorter than the parietals; loreal entering the eye; scales oblique, in 19 or 21 rows; ventrals 186-222; anal divided; subcaudals 48-73 _Tarbophis fallax._ Frontal 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 times as long as broad, nearly as long as the parietals; loreal entering the eye; scales oblique, in 19 or 21 rows; ventrals 203-235; anal entire; subcaudals 54-70 _Tarbophis iberus._ 2. Scales keeled, with two apical pits; anal shield entire. _a._ No pit between the nostril and the eye; upper head-shields small, if present; nasal separated from the rostral by a naso-rostral; eye separated from the upper labials by suboculars. [alpha]. Snout not turned up at the end; supraocular usually extending posteriorly beyond the vertical of the posterior border of the eye; frontal and parietal shields usually well developed; usually a single series of scales between the eye and the upper labials. Snout obtusely pointed, flat above, or with the canthus slightly raised; rostral usually in contact with a single apical shield, rarely with two; 6 to 9 upper labials, usually 7 or 8; scales in 19 rows, rarely 21; ventrals: [M] 120-135, [F] 125-142 _Vipera ursinii._ Snout pointed, with raised canthus; rostral in contact with a single apical shield; 8 or 9 upper labials; scales in 21 rows, rarely 19; ventrals: [M] 130-148, [F] 130-150 _Vipera renardi._