Viperine water snake

Natrix maura
Colubrids (Colubridae)

CC-BY-SA 2.0 rights : Ferran Pestaña

Copper brown snake with black markings and many variations in colour and markings. Sometimes the markings are zigzag or checkered shaped and can be with an olive yellow or red tinge. The side is lighter in colour, and on the head side, you might find one or two half-moon shaped dark lines. The belly is white, yellow, red or brown checkered with black. The upper lip is lighter coloured, and the pupils are round.

A very talented swimmer and it can be submerged for 15 min. It takes fish and water life in general.

⇔ l. 60-100 cm

syn. Viperine snake

Although not a viper it will behave like one when disturbed, hence the name.

LA:
≈ The difference with VIPERIDAE (real Vipers) is the pupil shape, they have a vertical pupil and spurt poison. 
≈ The NATRIX TESSELLATA (Dice snake) has a more pointed head and less defined markings. 
≈ The NATRIX NATRIX (Grass snake) has the nose and eyes more at the side of the head and not pointed upwards. 
≈ The ZAMENIS LONGISSIMUS (Aesculapian snake) is without keeled scales.

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