all snake species of Europe - an overview in photographs
Posted: January 10th, 2012, 1:31 pm
Now that took quite some more work than I anticipated....
Here it is – add this to viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9418 and you have all the snakes of Europe (excluding former Soviet States), as found by my friends and me over the last 7 years or so.
! ! ! Sorry for the little amount of text and overkill of pictures, but strangely enough I was too lazy to select, once I had compiled them all………
Not all (if any…) shots are worth looking at, but at least it gives a comprehensive overview.
Taxonomy concordant with ...
Speybroeck, J.; Beukema, W.; Crochet, P.-A. (2010). A tentative species list of the European herpetofauna (Amphibia and Reptilia) — an update. Zootaxa 2492: 1-27.
TYPHLOPIDAE (worm snakes)
worm snake (Typhlops vermicularis)
A small, shiny snake, easily mistaken for an earthworm; inconspicuous head and tiny eyes, with a pointy, rather fat tail-end to fool predators as a false head. Largely subterraneous, feeding on small invertebrates like ants, termites, .... Restricted to extreme southern SE Europe, occurring in Greece, S Bulgaria, FYROM, Albania, Montenegro and S Croatia. A photographer’s nightmare, its small size making it hard to handle and its dislike of daylight causing it to fidget without end.
ERYCIDAE (sand boas)
Sand Boa (Eryx jaculus)
Short, fat snake, with poorly pronounced head and rather blunt tail. Pelvic girdle shows tiny remains of hind legs. Lives largely below the surface, for which it has a strong rostral scale, but also exploits existing rodent burrows, feeding in part on its original constructors. Can be found above ground, but usually found under semi-submerged stones in loose soil.
COLUBRIDAE (colubrids)
The next genera – Hierophis, Hemorrhois, Dolichophis, Platyceps - were formerly part of the genus Coluber (in Europe
commonly assigned as whip snakes). All are very fast moving, active hunters and bite fiercely when handled. Usually rather abundant in suitable habitat. Members of the 3 first genera are more less parapatric, with one replacing the other in a comparable niche, in different parts of Europe.
Western Whip Snake (Hierophis viridiflavus)
An abundant species in France (except N), Italy and adjacent areas, including the larger Mediterranean islands Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily.
--- Hierophis viridiflavus viridiflavus
not too far away from Rome, Italy
same
same
same
man with snake
from Corsica, France
habitat from Corsica
from Sardinia, Italy
from Sardinia, Italy
from Sardinia, Italy
juvenile from Sardinia, Italy
--- Hierophis viridiflavus carbonarius: Sicily, Malta, E Italy, … ; usually rather ‘dull’, uniformly black
from Slovenia
from S Italy
from S Italy
from Malta
from Malta
juvenile from Malta
from Sicily
Balkan Whip Snake (Hierophis gemonensis)
Counterpart of the previous species occurring from Croatia southwards until Greece, including the larger island Crete.
from Crete
from Crete
from Kythira island
from Montenegro
from Montenegro
from Montenegro
juvenile from S Greece
juvenile from S Greece
Horse-shoe Whip Snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis)
Abundant snake in most of Spain and Portugal. Unfortunately, I don’t have that many pictures of it (yet), since I have been travelling not that often in its range as in other parts of Europe.
subadult from Andalucia, S Spain
juvenile from Andalucia, S Spain
Algerian Whip Snake (Hemorrhois algirus)
Originating from N Africa, this species has been introduced to the capital of Malta during WW I. Nowadays, still restricted to gardens and wasteland areas in the capital area, with the rest of the island being occupied by the western whip snake (see above).
that’s what you get…
herpers in habitat
Coin-marked Snake (Hemorrhois nummifer)
Presence not really confirmed from European soil, with unconfirmed citings from Turkish Thrace (= European Turkey) and present on Asian Greek islands.
especially young have clear markings
Caspian Whip Snake (Dolichophis caspius)
Gets quite big (2m and more). The main land-based snake of the eastern parts of SE Europe, occurring in Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, but also Montenegro, Serbia, and even as for north as Hungary.
big adult
from Montenegro
from Montenegro
young from Romania
from Bulgaria
from N Greece
from N Greece
Dahl’s Whip Snake (Platyceps najadum)
Very thin, fast and beautiful. Occurs in SE Europe (Greece, S Bulgaria, Albania and up along Adriatic Coast north to Croatia. Loves hot rocky habitat with tasty lizards.
juvenile from Samos Island (Greece) with many spots
Reddish Whip Snake (Platyceps collaris)
Like previous (former subspecies), but in Europe only in very small area in Bulgaria and (?)European Turkey. Small, but beautiful and fast as lightning.
individual with (rather rare) interrupted dark neck saddle spot
Masked Dwarf Snake (Eirenis modestus)
Presence not really confirmed from European soil, with unconfirmed citings from Turkish Thrace (= European Turkey) and present on Asian Greek islands. Small and rather inconspicuous.
The next genera – Elaphe, Rhinechis, Zamenis - were formerly part of the larger genus Elaphe (rat snakes). Usually more secretive than the Coluber s.l. species.
Four-lined Snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata)
Occurs in the western half of SE Europe (Croatia, Greece, …) but also locally in Italy. Quite big and strong built, but usually very calm when handled. Adults striped, young ones blotched
adult (Montenegro 2008)
same
adult (Montenegro 2008)
juvenile (Montenegro 2008)
subadult (Montenegro 2008)
Greece 2006
same
subspecies from Cycladic Islands reached adult pattern at much smaller size (here scyrensis, from Skyros 2006)
Bulgaria 2005
same
subadult, Greece 2004
Blotched Snake (Elaphe sauromates)
Used to be subspecies of the former, but occurs in the eastern half of SE Europe (Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and further east). Remains blotched, also as adult, and more bity.
adult (Greece 2004)
juvenile (Bulgaria 2005)
Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus)
Gets 2m or more. Not special-patterned, but graceful. Occurs throughout France, N Italy, N Spain, Germany, and most of SE Europe.
Greece 2004
same
juvenile (Bulgaria 2005)
Bulgaria 2005
Romania 2007
Montenegro 2008
same
France 2011
Italian Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis lineatus)
Only S Italy and Sicily. Often striped, eye reddish.
juvenile
adult
same
subadult
same
Leopard Snake (Zamenis situla)
Secretive beauty, living in SE Europe and parts of S Italy and Sicily. Also Malta.
Malta 2007
same
young, Greece 2006
adult, Greece 2006
adult, Greece 2006
other juvenile, Greece 2006
adult, Greece 2006
striped morph, Greece 2006
same
Bulgaria 2005
same
Ladder Snake (Rhinechis scalaris)
Ladder design in juveniles fades to 2 stripes in adults. Spain, Portugal and S France.
Spain 2010
another from Spain 2010
another from Spain 2010
another from Spain 2010 with some remnants of juvenile pattern
juvenile, France 2006
subadult, Spain 2006
Spain 2006
Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca)
Inconspicuous lizard eater with wide range, occupying warm spots in the north and cool mountains in the south. Small, but bity when handled.
Belgium 2007
Greece 2004
juvenile Spain 2005
Italy 2006
Romania 2007
Montenegro 2008
Sicily 2010
Slovenia 2010
France 2011
Southern Smooth Snake (Coronella girondica)
Very similar to previous, but belly checkered. Also differs in being crepuscular or nocturnal and docile. Spain, Portugal, S France and N Italy.
Spain 2006
same
France 2006
Spain 2010
same
Iberian False Smooth Snake (Macroprotodon brevis)
Small, usually under stones, mildly venomous. Spain (mainland) and Portugal.
Portugal 2010
Spain 2006
Spain 2006 – by daylight, pupil rather cat-like but this is a nocturnal picture
Algerian False Smooth Snake (Macroprotodon cucullatus s.s.)
Introduced to the islands of Mallorca and Menorca.
Menorca 2010
same
same
another, Menorca 2010
same
tiny juvenile, Menorca 2010
Cat Snake (Telescopus fallax)
Secretive, nocturnal gecko hunter. Greece, Malta, Bulgaria, Croatia, …
Greece 2004
Greece 2004
Greece 2006
same
Greece 2006
same
juvenile, Greece 2006
same
Malta 2007
same
Greece 2007
subspecies pallidus, Crete, Greece 2009, less marked blotches
same
other, subspecies pallidus, Crete, Greece 2009
tiny juvenile, Samos, Greece 2009
subadult, Kythira, Greece 2011
big adult, Kythira, Greece 2011
same
same
same
NATRICIDAE (“Eurasian water snakes”)
Hardly ever bite, but musk like hell.
Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)
Widespread, several subspecies have been described. Typically, amphibian eater.
--- Natrix natrix natrix
Most of Central and Eastern Europe. Lateral spots.
Slovenia 2010
intermediate natrix/persa Bulgaria
intermediate natrix/persa Romania
--- Natrix natrix helvetica
Most of W Europe. Lateral bars.
from my own country, Belgium
same
same
from France
--- Natrix natrix astreptophora
S France, Spain, Portugal. Largely unmarked.
--- Natrix natrix persa
Pale dorsolateral stripes. SE Europe
Greece 2004
from Skyros 2006
pre-shed melanist
angry melanist from Montenegro
Samos beauty
stripeless from Kythira
Kythira juvenile
--- Natrix natrix schweizeri
Milos archipelago. Several morphs.
black morph
--- Natrix natrix sicula
S Italy and Sicily. Orange snout tip.
--- Natrix natrix corsa
Corsica. No yellow collar, bars running around body.
same
same
--- Natrix natrix cetti
Sardinia. Similar to corsa, although the only one I’ve seen so far, is rather weird. A rare subspecies, which took me some trips to see…
same
same
--- Other European subspecies, I have not (yet) photographed and are lanzai, gotlandica and fusca.
Viperine Snake (Natrix maura)
Even more aquatic, more of a fish-eater, living in SE Europe (France, Spain, Portugal, Balearics, Sardinia). Pattern sometimes like viper zigzag.
after dinner
juvenile
Dice Snake (Natrix tessellata)
The SE European counterpart of the previous species – very aquatic and feeds largely on fish. Often not very beautiful. With the added anal gland smell, this is a species you don’t catch for fun, once you’ve seen enough…
Slovenia 2010
from Crete
same
other from Crete
nocturnal fish hunter from Crete
blacky from Crete
same
same
photographing the latter
from Switzerland
PSAMMOPHIIDAE
Rear-fanged, venomous. Big, can actively hunt big lizard, small mammals, … Can sound like a tyre loosing air for hours and act cobra-like. Head with raised “eyebrows”, which cover glands which secrete pheromones and a substance which prevents evaporation of moisture, allowing these snakes to be active in hot weather. Surprisingly, I don’t have that many shots of these “trash snakes”, commonly found on rodent-rich rubbish dumps etc.
Western Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus)
juvenile
might have an Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus) inside. Males of the Western species typically have a dark collar behind the first part of the body.
juvenile found in winter
Eastern Montpellier Snake (Malpolon insignitus)
juvenile
cobra manners...
Here it is – add this to viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9418 and you have all the snakes of Europe (excluding former Soviet States), as found by my friends and me over the last 7 years or so.
! ! ! Sorry for the little amount of text and overkill of pictures, but strangely enough I was too lazy to select, once I had compiled them all………
Not all (if any…) shots are worth looking at, but at least it gives a comprehensive overview.
Taxonomy concordant with ...
Speybroeck, J.; Beukema, W.; Crochet, P.-A. (2010). A tentative species list of the European herpetofauna (Amphibia and Reptilia) — an update. Zootaxa 2492: 1-27.
TYPHLOPIDAE (worm snakes)
worm snake (Typhlops vermicularis)
A small, shiny snake, easily mistaken for an earthworm; inconspicuous head and tiny eyes, with a pointy, rather fat tail-end to fool predators as a false head. Largely subterraneous, feeding on small invertebrates like ants, termites, .... Restricted to extreme southern SE Europe, occurring in Greece, S Bulgaria, FYROM, Albania, Montenegro and S Croatia. A photographer’s nightmare, its small size making it hard to handle and its dislike of daylight causing it to fidget without end.
ERYCIDAE (sand boas)
Sand Boa (Eryx jaculus)
Short, fat snake, with poorly pronounced head and rather blunt tail. Pelvic girdle shows tiny remains of hind legs. Lives largely below the surface, for which it has a strong rostral scale, but also exploits existing rodent burrows, feeding in part on its original constructors. Can be found above ground, but usually found under semi-submerged stones in loose soil.
COLUBRIDAE (colubrids)
The next genera – Hierophis, Hemorrhois, Dolichophis, Platyceps - were formerly part of the genus Coluber (in Europe
commonly assigned as whip snakes). All are very fast moving, active hunters and bite fiercely when handled. Usually rather abundant in suitable habitat. Members of the 3 first genera are more less parapatric, with one replacing the other in a comparable niche, in different parts of Europe.
Western Whip Snake (Hierophis viridiflavus)
An abundant species in France (except N), Italy and adjacent areas, including the larger Mediterranean islands Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily.
--- Hierophis viridiflavus viridiflavus
not too far away from Rome, Italy
same
same
same
man with snake
from Corsica, France
habitat from Corsica
from Sardinia, Italy
from Sardinia, Italy
from Sardinia, Italy
juvenile from Sardinia, Italy
--- Hierophis viridiflavus carbonarius: Sicily, Malta, E Italy, … ; usually rather ‘dull’, uniformly black
from Slovenia
from S Italy
from S Italy
from Malta
from Malta
juvenile from Malta
from Sicily
Balkan Whip Snake (Hierophis gemonensis)
Counterpart of the previous species occurring from Croatia southwards until Greece, including the larger island Crete.
from Crete
from Crete
from Kythira island
from Montenegro
from Montenegro
from Montenegro
juvenile from S Greece
juvenile from S Greece
Horse-shoe Whip Snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis)
Abundant snake in most of Spain and Portugal. Unfortunately, I don’t have that many pictures of it (yet), since I have been travelling not that often in its range as in other parts of Europe.
subadult from Andalucia, S Spain
juvenile from Andalucia, S Spain
Algerian Whip Snake (Hemorrhois algirus)
Originating from N Africa, this species has been introduced to the capital of Malta during WW I. Nowadays, still restricted to gardens and wasteland areas in the capital area, with the rest of the island being occupied by the western whip snake (see above).
that’s what you get…
herpers in habitat
Coin-marked Snake (Hemorrhois nummifer)
Presence not really confirmed from European soil, with unconfirmed citings from Turkish Thrace (= European Turkey) and present on Asian Greek islands.
especially young have clear markings
Caspian Whip Snake (Dolichophis caspius)
Gets quite big (2m and more). The main land-based snake of the eastern parts of SE Europe, occurring in Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, but also Montenegro, Serbia, and even as for north as Hungary.
big adult
from Montenegro
from Montenegro
young from Romania
from Bulgaria
from N Greece
from N Greece
Dahl’s Whip Snake (Platyceps najadum)
Very thin, fast and beautiful. Occurs in SE Europe (Greece, S Bulgaria, Albania and up along Adriatic Coast north to Croatia. Loves hot rocky habitat with tasty lizards.
juvenile from Samos Island (Greece) with many spots
Reddish Whip Snake (Platyceps collaris)
Like previous (former subspecies), but in Europe only in very small area in Bulgaria and (?)European Turkey. Small, but beautiful and fast as lightning.
individual with (rather rare) interrupted dark neck saddle spot
Masked Dwarf Snake (Eirenis modestus)
Presence not really confirmed from European soil, with unconfirmed citings from Turkish Thrace (= European Turkey) and present on Asian Greek islands. Small and rather inconspicuous.
The next genera – Elaphe, Rhinechis, Zamenis - were formerly part of the larger genus Elaphe (rat snakes). Usually more secretive than the Coluber s.l. species.
Four-lined Snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata)
Occurs in the western half of SE Europe (Croatia, Greece, …) but also locally in Italy. Quite big and strong built, but usually very calm when handled. Adults striped, young ones blotched
adult (Montenegro 2008)
same
adult (Montenegro 2008)
juvenile (Montenegro 2008)
subadult (Montenegro 2008)
Greece 2006
same
subspecies from Cycladic Islands reached adult pattern at much smaller size (here scyrensis, from Skyros 2006)
Bulgaria 2005
same
subadult, Greece 2004
Blotched Snake (Elaphe sauromates)
Used to be subspecies of the former, but occurs in the eastern half of SE Europe (Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and further east). Remains blotched, also as adult, and more bity.
adult (Greece 2004)
juvenile (Bulgaria 2005)
Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus)
Gets 2m or more. Not special-patterned, but graceful. Occurs throughout France, N Italy, N Spain, Germany, and most of SE Europe.
Greece 2004
same
juvenile (Bulgaria 2005)
Bulgaria 2005
Romania 2007
Montenegro 2008
same
France 2011
Italian Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis lineatus)
Only S Italy and Sicily. Often striped, eye reddish.
juvenile
adult
same
subadult
same
Leopard Snake (Zamenis situla)
Secretive beauty, living in SE Europe and parts of S Italy and Sicily. Also Malta.
Malta 2007
same
young, Greece 2006
adult, Greece 2006
adult, Greece 2006
other juvenile, Greece 2006
adult, Greece 2006
striped morph, Greece 2006
same
Bulgaria 2005
same
Ladder Snake (Rhinechis scalaris)
Ladder design in juveniles fades to 2 stripes in adults. Spain, Portugal and S France.
Spain 2010
another from Spain 2010
another from Spain 2010
another from Spain 2010 with some remnants of juvenile pattern
juvenile, France 2006
subadult, Spain 2006
Spain 2006
Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca)
Inconspicuous lizard eater with wide range, occupying warm spots in the north and cool mountains in the south. Small, but bity when handled.
Belgium 2007
Greece 2004
juvenile Spain 2005
Italy 2006
Romania 2007
Montenegro 2008
Sicily 2010
Slovenia 2010
France 2011
Southern Smooth Snake (Coronella girondica)
Very similar to previous, but belly checkered. Also differs in being crepuscular or nocturnal and docile. Spain, Portugal, S France and N Italy.
Spain 2006
same
France 2006
Spain 2010
same
Iberian False Smooth Snake (Macroprotodon brevis)
Small, usually under stones, mildly venomous. Spain (mainland) and Portugal.
Portugal 2010
Spain 2006
Spain 2006 – by daylight, pupil rather cat-like but this is a nocturnal picture
Algerian False Smooth Snake (Macroprotodon cucullatus s.s.)
Introduced to the islands of Mallorca and Menorca.
Menorca 2010
same
same
another, Menorca 2010
same
tiny juvenile, Menorca 2010
Cat Snake (Telescopus fallax)
Secretive, nocturnal gecko hunter. Greece, Malta, Bulgaria, Croatia, …
Greece 2004
Greece 2004
Greece 2006
same
Greece 2006
same
juvenile, Greece 2006
same
Malta 2007
same
Greece 2007
subspecies pallidus, Crete, Greece 2009, less marked blotches
same
other, subspecies pallidus, Crete, Greece 2009
tiny juvenile, Samos, Greece 2009
subadult, Kythira, Greece 2011
big adult, Kythira, Greece 2011
same
same
same
NATRICIDAE (“Eurasian water snakes”)
Hardly ever bite, but musk like hell.
Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)
Widespread, several subspecies have been described. Typically, amphibian eater.
--- Natrix natrix natrix
Most of Central and Eastern Europe. Lateral spots.
Slovenia 2010
intermediate natrix/persa Bulgaria
intermediate natrix/persa Romania
--- Natrix natrix helvetica
Most of W Europe. Lateral bars.
from my own country, Belgium
same
same
from France
--- Natrix natrix astreptophora
S France, Spain, Portugal. Largely unmarked.
--- Natrix natrix persa
Pale dorsolateral stripes. SE Europe
Greece 2004
from Skyros 2006
pre-shed melanist
angry melanist from Montenegro
Samos beauty
stripeless from Kythira
Kythira juvenile
--- Natrix natrix schweizeri
Milos archipelago. Several morphs.
black morph
--- Natrix natrix sicula
S Italy and Sicily. Orange snout tip.
--- Natrix natrix corsa
Corsica. No yellow collar, bars running around body.
same
same
--- Natrix natrix cetti
Sardinia. Similar to corsa, although the only one I’ve seen so far, is rather weird. A rare subspecies, which took me some trips to see…
same
same
--- Other European subspecies, I have not (yet) photographed and are lanzai, gotlandica and fusca.
Viperine Snake (Natrix maura)
Even more aquatic, more of a fish-eater, living in SE Europe (France, Spain, Portugal, Balearics, Sardinia). Pattern sometimes like viper zigzag.
after dinner
juvenile
Dice Snake (Natrix tessellata)
The SE European counterpart of the previous species – very aquatic and feeds largely on fish. Often not very beautiful. With the added anal gland smell, this is a species you don’t catch for fun, once you’ve seen enough…
Slovenia 2010
from Crete
same
other from Crete
nocturnal fish hunter from Crete
blacky from Crete
same
same
photographing the latter
from Switzerland
PSAMMOPHIIDAE
Rear-fanged, venomous. Big, can actively hunt big lizard, small mammals, … Can sound like a tyre loosing air for hours and act cobra-like. Head with raised “eyebrows”, which cover glands which secrete pheromones and a substance which prevents evaporation of moisture, allowing these snakes to be active in hot weather. Surprisingly, I don’t have that many shots of these “trash snakes”, commonly found on rodent-rich rubbish dumps etc.
Western Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus)
juvenile
might have an Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus) inside. Males of the Western species typically have a dark collar behind the first part of the body.
juvenile found in winter
Eastern Montpellier Snake (Malpolon insignitus)
juvenile
cobra manners...