New perspectives on Iberian vipers monitoring: camera trapping on <em>Vipera aspis</em> and <em>V. latastei</em> populations, methodological insights and behavioural records
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11160/bah.340Keywords:
animal photo-identification, caudal luring, male–male combat, reptile camera trapping, viper behaviour, ViperidaeAbstract
Camera trapping (CT) is a widely used tool for wildlife monitoring, yet its application to small vertebrates remains limited despite its potential for detecting secretive species such as vipers. Within the Iberian Vipers Population Monitoring Network, we tested CT as a complementary method to capture–recapture surveys. We conducted CT surveys in two Iberian viper populations: one of Vipera aspis in La Rioja (northern Spain) during autumn 2024 and spring 2025, and one of V. latastei in Teruel (eastern Spain) during spring–autumn 2025. Cameras were deployed targeting microhabitats used by vipers and were set to record 30-second videos. To facilitate individual recognition in the V. latastei population, zoom lenses were installed on the cameras from June onwards. Despite the large volume of data, viper presence was recorded in only 14% for V. aspis and 1% for V. latastei. Video data indicated frequent camera activation by wind-induced vegetation movement in both populations and high small mammal activity in the V. latastei population. Notably, we documented behaviours rarely reported in Iberian vipers, including male–male combat (in both populations), as well as pre-mating behaviour and caudal luring (in the V. aspis population). Zoom lenses enabled photo-identification of two individuals in the V. latastei population. Overall, although the CT setup requires further optimisation to improve detection rates and image quality, our pilot study supports its usefulness for obtaining information on viper activity and behaviour, and highlights the value of simple technical adjustments, such as the use of zoom lenses, to enhance data quality and complement capture-recapture surveys.
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