grass snake

About the grass snake

The grass snake (Natrix natrix), sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake, is a Eurasian semi-aquatic non-venomous colubrid snake. It is often found near water and feeds almost exclusively on amphibians. Many subspecies are recognized, including:

Natrix natrix helvetica (Lacépède, 1789) was formerly considered as a subspecies, but following a genetic analysis it was recognised in August 2017 as a separate species, Natrix helvetica, the barred grass snake. Four other subspecies were transferred from N. natrix to N. helvetica, becoming N. helvetica cettii, N. helvetica corsa, N. helvetica lanzai and N. helvetica sicula.

The subspecies N. natrix astreptophora, found in the Iberian peninsula, the Pyrenees, and North-Western Africa, has been reclassified as its own species Natrix astreptophora or the Iberian grass snake. The grass snake is typically dark green or brown in colour with a characteristic yellow or white collar behind the head, earning it the alternative name of 'ringed snake'. Its colouration can range from grey to black; darker colours are more prevalent in colder regions, presumably due to the thermal benefits of dark pigmentation... Wikipedia →