Myths

It is important to remember that new information should never be accepted uncritically. Always cross-check its validity. Misinformation can have serious consequences — not only for people but also for the Milos viper as well. Knowledge is the antidote to fear; it empowers us, dispels myths, and fosters a deeper understanding of the natural world allowing us to truly appreciate it. Following are the most prevalent myths that can be heard on Sifnos, Milos and Kimolos. Above you can see a European ratsnake (Zamenis situla) from Sifnos - often mistaken for the Milos viper. 

Myth: If bitten by the Milos viper, a person dies within minutes.
Reality: There has never been a single recorded human death from this species. Its bite requires medical treatment but is not instantly lethal.

Myth: Juvenile vipers are deadlier than adults.
Reality: Venom toxicity is essentially the same across life stages. Juveniles inject less venom due to lower yield.

Myth: The red phenotype is more venomous than the grey one.
Reality: Both phenotypes produce venom identical in composition.

Myth: The Milos viper is more toxic after brumation.
Reality: Venom toxicity does not change before or after brumation.

Myth: The Milos viper is aggressive and chases people to bite them.
Reality: It avoids confrontation and flees backwards when approached by humans.

Myth: Two viper species live on the Milos archipelago — a red one and a grey one.
Reality: Only one species exists, the Milos viper, with two color phenotypes or color variations.

Myth: The Milos viper's gaze can magnetize passerine birds which drop from the trees and the vipers eat them.
Reality: The Milos viper does not have "telepathic powers".

Myth: The Milos viper was introduced in recent decades (e.g., by foreigners).
Reality: The species has been native to the archipelago for millennia. Plinius the Elder already recorded its presence on Kimolos since AD 23–79.

Myth: Ecologists have released vipers on Milos.
Reality: No snake species has ever been released in Greece by scientists, researchers, ecologists or biologists.

Myth: The Milos viper interbreeds with eels during hot August nights.
Reality: Biologically impossible — snakes and eels don’t even belong to the same Genus, let alone interbreed.

Myth: Vipers arch like cobras and spit venom darts.
Reality: Macrovipera schweizeri cannot spit venom, and venom “darts” do not exist.

Myth: Kimolos and Polyaigos host rattlesnakes.
Reality: Rattlesnakes only occur in the Americas.

Myth: Snakes are attracted to milk.
Reality: Snakes are not attracted to milk as they lack the enzymes to digest it— but milk attracts rodents, which in turn attract snakes.

Myth: Vipers drink milk directly from livestock and the livestock consequently die.
Reality: No such behavior has never been observed in any snake species. As mentioned above, snakes lack the enzymes to digest milk.

Myth: Hatchlings follow their mother.
Reality: The Milos viper is solitary at all life stages.

Myth: The Milos viper hibernates all winter.
Reality: It brumates intermittently, emerging on warmer winter days.

Myth: If you cut a Milos viper in half with an axe, each half will grow into a new snake. Only fire can kill it.

Reality: Biologically impossible for a snake to regenerate into two new individuals after being cut in half. This myth likely originates from the legend of Hercules and the Hydra, a creature that could regrow multiple heads unless each severed head was burned with fire.