The smooth snake is called smooth because its scales are flat, giving it a smooth texture. This allows it to move easily through vegetation. Its coloration consists of brown, gray, or black shades, enabling it to hide in grassy habitats. It is found in mainland Europe and parts of Western Asia, living as far north as the Baltic region. In the UK, where it has three native snake species, it has become endangered. Smooth snakes spend time hiding under rocks, holes, vegetation and leaf litter, venturing out to hunt small mammals like voles and lizards, and to bask. They kill prey by entwining and suffocating them. Smooth snakes reproduce by laying eggs in sand. They are protected in the UK and Europe due to habitat loss. Their inconspicuous nature and remarkable camouflage abilities aid their survival.
How big does a smooth snake get?
The smooth snake is one of three native snake species found in the UK. It is our rarest terrestrial reptile. Smooth snakes are smaller than most people imagine, usually only growing to 60-70 cm in length. Their body tends to be either grey or brown with a paler underbelly and black markings arranged in bars or rows of dots down their back.
The pattern on its back is less defined and striking than that of the adder. Smooth snakes are more tolerant of heat than our other native snakes. They might be seen in the open on warm, sunny days.
Our rarest reptile, the smooth snake is restricted to the heaths of Surrey, Dorset and the New Forest. Some taxonomists recognize two distinct subspecies of the smooth snake.
Smooth snakes can start entering their underground hibernation sites from September. They often do not emerge until early April. On emerging from hibernation, groups of snakes can be found basking together near hibernation sites.
Mating occurs in May. The live young are born in September or late August. Usually, between eight and fifteen young are born. They often bask together in groups. While the snakes are active, they mainly eat lizards but can also eat small mammals.
The average lifespan of a Smooth snake in the wild is between 10 and 15 years. Their longevity can shift with environmental and predatory variables. The ovoviviparous nature of the smooth snake means that it gives birth to fully developed offspring.
The average weight of a Smooth snake is between 2 and 5 ounces, though this can range from 60 to 150 grams.
What does the smooth snake eat?
The smooth snake eats insects and spiders, including caterpillars, harvestmen, moths, ants, snails, worms, and slugs. Smooth green snakes are not venomous. Some species are not endangered and make docile pets. Their defense mechanism is blending into their environment. Green snakes do not eat fruits or vegetables. The Smooth Snake utilizes constriction to capture prey. They primarily feed on small mammals and lizards. The main diet consists of small mammals like voles and shrews, as well as lizards. They are opportunistic hunters. The species is found in northern and central Europe, but also as far east as northern Iran. Smooth snake.
The smooth green snake mostly eats insects and spiders. What snakes are bright green? A vine snake is any of several species of slender, bright green snake found throughout the tropical rain forests of the world. They look like vine stems and often hunt by imitating them. As ant hills may be important for the Smooth Green Snake’s winter survival, they need to get below the frost line or insulated from it. A Rough Green Snake out hunting. Smooth Green Snakes retain their eggs in their body until the embryos are well-developed. This late egg laying means their clutches are less at risk from variable weather. Smooth Green Snakes specialize in slightly smaller and more terrestrial prey like caterpillars, grubs, and spiders.
You will notice key physical differences between rough and smooth green snakes. Smooth snakes can emit a quiet short hiss when stressed, which is usually associated with a strike or sudden jerk of the forebody. They do not emit prolonged warning hisses. The dark dorsal markings are arranged as pairs of dots, bars or dashed lines. There is usually a second pair of lines running along the flanks. The smooth snake is one of three native snake species found in the UK, and is the rarest. How big do smooth snakes get?
The Smooth Snake is a non-venomous snake species native to Europe. With its secretive nature and unique habitat requirements, it has intrigued researchers. Smooth Snakes are medium-sized, typically 60-70 cm long when fully grown. Although not rare on the mainland, the smooth snake is very rare in Britain. The species was not known to occur prior to the mid-19th Century. The smooth snake was never widely distributed, being confined to the southern counties. This is Britain’s rarest indigenous reptile.
Smooth grassy snakes are everywhere slowly destroyed. Although represented by a very large number of subpopulations, the total adult population is unknown but certainly exceeds 100,000. Distribution, area of distribution, number of subpopulations, and number of individuals are relatively stable or slowly decreasing. Smooth grass snakes are threatened by habitat loss from human activities but generally the species does not experience particularly dangerous threats.
Is a smooth snake a constrictor?
The smooth snake is a constrictor. Harmless to humans, this snake preys on sand lizards, slow-worms, insects and nestlings. Despite its superb camouflage, the smooth snake does have predators: birds, such as pheasants, carrion crows and birds of prey, and mammals, such as red foxes, badgers and weasels.
The smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)[3] is a species of non-venomous snake. The species is found in northern and central Europe, but also as far east as northern Iran. The Reptile Database recognizes two subspecies as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies described here.[2].
Fellow reptiles are the smooth snake’s main food source, particularly the endangered sand lizard. This is the UK’s second rarest reptile, and is rare for the same reason as smooth snakes: a restricted habitat of sandy heathland.
Although usually considered mute, Smooth snakes can emit a quiet short hiss when stressed, which is usually associated with a strike or sudden jerk of the forebody. They do not emit prolongued warning hisses like the Adder and Grass snake.
The smooth snake is a constrictor, harmless to humans but deadly to the tiny grass snake, which slowly loses its breath as it is suffocated by the smooth snake. The grass snake plays dead and exudes a nasty smell when it feels threatened.
Reptiles fill a critical role both as predator and prey to maintain the balance of species. The smooth snake is a constrictor, crushing to death in its coils prey such as sand lizards, slow worms, insects and baby birds. In turn, it is hunted by foxes, pheasants, badgers and weasels. Rarely seen, Coronella austriaca can only thrive in a heathland habitat, where sandy soil gets warm in the summer sun and low-growing heather, gorse and grasses provide camouflage and cover.