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Viperine water snake

Natrix maura

Description:

Natrix maura is gray, brown, or reddish dorsally, with a black zigzag vertebral stripe, and lateral series of black ocelli with yellow centers. The labials are yellow with black sutures. It has a diagonal dark band on each temple, and another behind it on each side of the neck. Ventrally it is yellow or red, checkered with black, or all black. The strongly-keeled dorsal scales are arranged in 21 rows. The ventrals are 147–160; the anal plate is divided; and the paired subcaudals are 47–72. Adults may attain a total length of 85 cm (33½ inches), with a tail 17 cm (6⅝ inches) long.

Habitat:

The viperine snake is found in southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa. Specifically, Natrix maura is found in the European countries of: Portugal, Spain, France, northernwest Italy and even into Switzerland. It has spread to areas of England as well. It is found in African countries of Morocco, northern Algeria, northwestern Libya, and northern to central Tunisia

Notes:

spotted in my backyard.One of my cats Picasso,the one eye blind,show with this baby snake,she play the dead game with him and i found it completly safe.After a little photo show,i release it far from my home near a little river streem that we have passing in the back.A happy end :-)

1 Species ID Suggestions

Viperine water snake
Natrix maura


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10 Comments

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

nice markings.Must be a constrictor?

Thanks Ashley and Telma for one more ID,i think that is a natrix maura too
Thanks Jemma,here in my area there no venomous snakes.only in the north in Gerês national park there are vipers venomous:-)

TelmaG.Laurentino
TelmaG.Laurentino 10 years ago

I would say Natrix maura because of the back pattern (zigzag typical of natrix maura and with lateral eyespots) and the highly trinagular head, mimicking a viper.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

the last pic looks like a checkered keelback.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

beautiful snake. You are lucky it was safe. My neighbor mistook a baby rattle snake for a gopher and after being bit,he was in intensive care unit for a week. Baby rattle snakes deliver more venom than an adult!
This snake is cute and lovely. Might just be benign. Let's see what Ashley has to say!

I presume that is a common non venomous water snake i'am waiting for a id suggestion from Ashley :-)
I saw picasso playing with a little "stick" but ,just in case i aproach and i saw what i thougth was a dead snake,i take it from him and handle her and after a few seconds she began to move we make the photos and the released,she play dead perfectly,picasso dont hurt her,any visible mark,so it was a happy ending :-9

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

wow! Picasso found it? Can you believe it , I was just going to ask you what Picasso and cats were doing?!
So it played dead? Was it venomous/ non venomous?

Thanks Maria for your kind words

Maria dB
Maria dB 10 years ago

Especially like the last photo!

Braga, Portugal

Spotted on Sep 20, 2013
Submitted on Sep 20, 2013

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