Tessellated Water Snake

About the Tessellated Water Snake

The dice snake (Natrix tessellata) or water snake is a Eurasian nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae, subfamily Natricinae. Its average length is 1.0–1.3 m (39–51 in). Body color may vary from greyish green to brownish or almost black, with dark spots on the back. The belly is sometimes vividly coloured in yellow or orange, with black spots, very similar to dice, hence the name.

Living mainly near rivers, streams and lakes, it frequently feeds on fish. Sometimes, it feeds also on amphibians such as frogs, toads, and tadpoles. In one instance, a dice snake was even observed trying to feed on an olm (Proteus anguinus) that had been flushed from a cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina following heavy rains. However, the snake was far too small to be able to consume the olm.

While considered nonvenomous, N. tessellata produces a potent antihemorrhagin in its serum. As a defence, it spreads a very bad-smelling secretion from its cloaca. Another defence mechanism is thanatosis, playing dead. During the mating season (March–May), they congregate in large groups. Egg-laying is usually in July, and one clutch consists of 10–30 eggs. The young snakes hatch in early September. Dice... Wikipedia →