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Snakes in Spain

Venomous

Common names: Baskian viper, Iberian cross adder, Portuguese viper.

Vipera seoanei is a venomous viper species found in extreme southwestern France and the northern regions of Spain and Portugal. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate race described here

Adults may grow to a length of 75 cm, but usually less.

This is a highly polymorphic species for which four main color-pattern types have been described:

A: well-developed, brown zigzig pattern down the back, very much like V. berus, set against a beige or light-gray ground color.

B: roughly twin-striped pattern, with the ground color expressed as two narrow, straight, dorsolateral longitudinal lines along the body. Resembles V. kaznakovi to some degree.

C: uniform brownish morph with no pattern.

D: fragmented zigzag pattern.

Picture with kind permission from   http://www.hylawerkgroep.be/jeroen

Venomous

The Montpellier Snake  ( Malpolon monspessulanus Culebra bastarda) is the largest snake in Iberia (up to 2m) and probably the commonest snake in the Mediterranean region and in Spain.  This snake is a generalist, feeding particularly on lizards but also small mammals, birds and even small rabbits.

Picture with kind permission from   http://www.hylawerkgroep.be/jeroen

Venomous

Common names: asp, asp viper, European asp, aspic viper, more.

Vipera aspis is a venomous viper species found in southwestern Europe. Bites from this species can be more severe than from the European adder, V. berus; not only can they be very painful, but according to Stemmler (1971), about 4% of all untreated bites are fatal. The specific name, aspis, is a Greek word that means "viper." Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here

Grows to an average length of 60-65 cm. Males reach a maximum of 85 cm, females rarely more than 75 cm. Males, however, are a little slimmer than females. The tail is very short: one-seventh to one-ninth of total body length in females, and one-sixth to one-eighth in males

The head is broad, triangular and quite distinct from the neck. The tip of the snout is slightly but distinctly upturned. The rostral scale is generally higher than it is wide, touching 2 to 3 scales on the upper side of the snout. Dorsally, the snout is flat with distinct and slightly raised sharp margins. The nasal scale is single (hardly ever divided) and separated from the rostral by a single nasorostral scale. The crown is covered with numerous small and irregular scales of different sizes that are mostly smooth, but sometimes slightly keeled. Frontal and parietal scales are usually not present, but if so, they are small and irregularly shaped, with the frontal separated from the supraoculars by 2 scale rows. The supraocular scales are large and distinct, separated by 4-7 scale rows. There are 10-12 (rarely 8-18) small circumorbital scales below the supraocular. The eye is separated from the supralabials by 2 (rarely 3) scale rows. The vertical diameter of the eye is about the same as the distance between the eye and the mouth. There are 9-13 supralabials. The 4th-5th supralabials (rarely 4th-6th or 5th-6th) are separated from the eye by 2 (rarely 3) rows of small scales, but sometimes there is a single scale between the 4th supralabial and the eye. Generally, the temporal scales are smooth, but sometimes slightly keeled.

Midbody, there are 21-23 (rarely 19 or 25) rows of dorsal scales. These are strongly keeled, except for the outermost rows that vary and are sometimes smooth. There are 134-170 ventral scales. Subspecies V. a. aspis averages fewer than 150 ventrals, while V. a. atra averages more. The anal scale is single. Males have 32-49 subcaudals, females 30-43.The subcaudal scales are paired.

The dorsal markings vary strongly, but only rarely take the form of a clear zigzag, as in V. berus.

Picture with kind permission from   http://www.hylawerkgroep.be/jeroen

Venomous

Common names: Lataste's viper, snub-nosed viper,snub-nosed adder.

Vipera latastei is a venomous viper species found in extreme southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa.Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here

This species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001). Listed as such because it is probably in significant decline (but likely at a rate of less than 30% over ten years) due to widespread habitat loss and persecution throughout much of its range, thus making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable. Further population reduction is expected, but is not likely to exceed 30% over the next 10 years, but localized extinctions in parts of its range are possible (e.g., Tunisia). Year assessed: 2005

Venomous

The False Smooth Snake (Macroprotodon brevis) is a species of snake in the Colubridae family. It is found in Spain. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, freshwater spring, rocky areas, sandy shores, arable land, pastureland, plantations , rural gardens, and urban areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Picture with kind permission from   http://www.hylawerkgroep.be/jeroen

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The Grass Snake (Natrix natrix), sometimes called the Ringed Snake or Water Snake is a European non-venomous snake.

The Grass Snake is typically dark green or brown in colour with a characteristic yellow collar behind the head, which explains the alternative name ringed snake. The colour may also range from grey to black, with darker colours being more prevalent in colder regions, presumably owing to the thermal benefits of being dark in colour. The underside is lighter in colour. In Great Britain the Grass Snake is the largest reptile reaching up to 190 centimetres total length, though such large specimins are rare. Females are considerably larger than males, typically reaching a size of 80-90 cm when fully grown. Males are approximately 20 cm shorter and significantly smaller in girth.

Not being venomous, the snake's only defence is to produce a foul-smelling fluid (containing asafoetida) from the anal glands and/or feigning death by becoming completely limp. Rarely, they may also perform fake attacks, striking without actually opening their mouths. They bite in defense rarely

Picture with kind permission from   http://www.hylawerkgroep.be/jeroen

Aesculapian Snake (Elaphe longissima or Zamenis longissimus) is a snake native to Europe.

It is a large slender non-venomous snake, which is an excellent tree-climber. When young, it feeds on lizards, as an adult its diet consists of rodents, moles, and shrews, young birds and eggs which it kills by constriction, or suffocation by eating its victim head first. Female lay clutches of 5-8 eggs in June/July.

A self-sustaining colony of Aesculapian Snakes (sometimes referred to as the rat snake) established itself in North Wales during the 1970s. Although this snake is an alien species to the United Kingdom, it is considered harmless and poses no threat. There is a small colony within the Welsh Mountain Zoo and are also found in the nearby gardens

Common names: southern smooth snake.

Coronella girondica is a harmless colubrid species found in southern Europe and northern Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Picture from Wildside Holidays

www.wildsideholidays.com/natural

Common names: Smooth snake.

Coronella austriaca is a harmless colubrid species found in northern and central Europe, but also as far east as northern Iran. The EMBL currently recognizes three subspecies, including the typical form described here

Both sexes grow to an average length of about 50 cm. Two specimens measuring 83 cm have been recorded in Sweden, as well as one in Russia that was 92 cm.

The head has a rostral scale that is at least as deep as it is wide, creating a triangular indentation between the internasals (rarely separating them). The top of the head is covered with 9 large plates. The nasal scale is often divided. There is 1 (rarely 2) preoculars and 2 postoculars. The temporals number 2+2 (rarely 1+2) or 2+3. There are 7 (rarely 8) upper labials, of which the 3rd and 4th or 4th and 5th border the eye.

Midbody there are 19 (rarely 17 or 21) rows of smooth dorsal scales. The ventrals number 150-164 in male4s and 162-200 in females. The anal scale is divided (rarely single) and the subcaudals paired. Males have 54-70 subcaudals and females 40-76.

The color pattern consists of a brown, gray of reddish ground color with two rows of small, rather indistinct dark spots running down the back towards the tail. In some cases, each pair of spots may be united towards the neck area, forming a series of cross-bars over the back. There is also a very indistinct series of dark spots running along each of the flanks. These four series of spots that run the length of the body overlay four parallel, rather shadowy stripes that also run down the back and flanks.

Dorsally, the head has somewhat heart-shaped making that resembles an inverted V posteriorly. This shape is where the name Coronella comes from, which means coronet (a small crown). A relatively thick dark stripe extends from the nostril along the side of the head to a little beyond the neck, only being interrupted by the eye. The upper labials are whitish, grayish-white or light brown, sometimes with darker spots. The tongue is reddish brown or dark red.

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