barred grass snake
Natrix helvetica
Silhouette: Danny S. · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyColubridae (Colubrid Snakes)
- GenusNatrix
- SpeciesNatrix helvetica (barred grass snake)
About the barred grass snake
The barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica) is a non-venomous colubrid snake from Western Europe, typically living in and close to water. It was included within the grass snake species, Natrix natrix, until August 2017, when genetic analysis led to its reclassification as a separate species.
There are currently five subspecies of Natrix helvetica recognized (having been formerly classified as subspecies of N. natrix): N. helvetica helvetica (syn. N. natrix helvetica) – most of range N. helvetica cetti (syn. N. natrix cetti) – Sardinia
N. helvetica corsa (syn. N. natrix corsa) – Corsica N. helvetica lanzai (syn. N. natrix lanzai) – mainland Italy, but not south N. helvetica sicula (syn. N. natrix sicula) – Calabria and Sicily The barred grass snake has a dark grey-green upper body with distinctive black markings in the form of bars running along its sides. Its underside is pale. Like the grass snake, it has a distinctive yellow and black collar around its neck. It can grow to over a metre in length.
The species is found in Great Britain as far north as southern Scotland, and in the Netherlands, western Germany, Switzerland, Italy... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of barred grass snake in Snowdonia National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Snowdonia National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 3 | Mercantour National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 4 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 5 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 6 | Aigüestortes National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 7 | Vanoise National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 8 | Ecrins National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 9 | Camargue | 🇫🇷 France |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a barred grass snake in Snowdonia National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a barred grass snake sighting in Snowdonia National Park, based on 61 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see barred grass snake in Snowdonia National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for barred grass snake in Snowdonia National Park in our monthly data.