The genus Montivipera has 8 species distributed from the highlands of the east and north-Mediterranean to Zagros and Alborz mountain ranges in Iran, most of them geologically isolated in mountainous habitats. Latifi's Mountain Viper (Montivipera latifii) is the easternmost geographically distributed species of this genus which is endemic to the highlands in the southern part of the Central Alborz mountain range in Iran. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the suitable habitats of Latifi's Mountain Viper and identifying the major threats to the species. In order to collect data for modeling the habitat suitability of M.latifii, sixteen stations were selected and environmental variables were recorded in two macro and micro (using 1 * 1 m and 3 * 3 m plots) scales during 2 years. A total number of thirty-three M.latifii's presence points were obtained and entered into the model in the Lar Protected Complex. Two models of Maximum Entropy and Ecological-Niche Factor Analysis were used to model the habitat suitability of the Viper. The results of this study showed that the effect of humans and roads greatly decrease and narrow the suitable habitats of Latifi's Mountain Viper. Livestock overgrazing and shrub-burning by shepherds as well as collecting specimens for their venom are among the most important threats to Latifi's Mountain Viper's population in Lar Valley. If the current negative human impacts on restricted habitats of the species continue, the extinction of this rare iconic viper is inevitable. According to the maps drawn by the study, to save the remaining populations of this endangered species which is on the verge of extinction, it is recommended to severely protect parts of the Lar National Park within which surviving populations are still having the chance to live.
