author(s)
Sedigheh Shakoori, Fatemeh Todehdehghan, Abdolhossein Shiravi, Vida Hojati

abstract
This study assesses captive breeding in Caucasian Viper, Gloydius halys caucasicus. Twenty three Caucasian Viper male and female snakes were collected from Taleghan and Damavand Counties to study the reproductive potential and assessment of captive breeding. The results indicated that the average weight of a pregnant female Caucasian viper was 68.92 ± 10.41g and the mean body length from snoutvent length (SVL) was 48.39 ± 2.69 cm. It is good to mention that the Caucasian Viper female has an annual reproductive cycle. Mating occurs in late spring (May-June) or early summer (July). Then, growth and maturation of follicles continues during the active season and stops during hibernation and will be resumed in the spring of next year. Due to giving birth in September (end of summer), the duration of pregnancy is estimated to be 2.5 months. The average litter size was 3–5. The average baby weight was 2.81 ± 0.39 g and the mean length (SVL) was 14.82 ± 0.84 cm as well. The Caucasian viper lives in mountainous areas and hibernates when the temperature drops during the winter. Hibernation lasts for three months.