Both sexes of C. austriaca grow to an average total length (including tail) of about 60 cm (24 in) to 75 cm (30 in). Two specimens measuring 83 cm (33 in) have been recorded in Sweden, as well as one in Russia that was 92 cm (36 in).[3]
The head has a rostral scale that is at least as deep as it is wide, creating a triangular indentation between the internasal scales (rarely separating them). The top of the head is covered with nine large plates. The nasal scale is often divided. There is one (rarely two) preoculars and two postoculars. The temporals number 2+2 or 2+3 (rarely 1+2) . There are seven (rarely eight) upper labials, of which the third and fourth or fourth and fifth border the eye.[3]
In the middle part of the body there are 19 (rarely 17 or 21) rows of dorsal scales. In contrast with many other snakes found in the region, these scales are flat (not keeled). This gives the snake a smooth texture to the touch, from which it gets its common name. The ventral scales number 150-164 in males and 162–200 in females. The anal scale is divided (rarely single) and the subcaudal scales are paired. Males have 54–70 subcaudal scales and females 40–76.[3]
The colour pattern consists of a brown, grey or reddish ground colour[4] with two rows of small, rather indistinct dark spots running down the back towards the tail. In some cases, each pair of spots may be united toward the neck area, forming a series of cross-bars over the back. There is also a very indistinct series of dark spots running along each of the flanks. These four series of spots along the body overlay four parallel, rather shadowy stripes that also run down the back and flanks.[3]
On the top of the head is a dark marking which is often in the shape of a crown, giving rise to the generic name Coronella (which means coronet). A relatively thick dark stripe extends from each nostril, through the eye, and along the side of the head to a little beyond the neck. The upper labials are whitish, greyish-white or light brown, sometimes with darker spots. The tongue is reddish brown or dark red.[3]
Biologyedit
The smooth snake feeds on smaller animals, especially other reptiles. It subdues larger prey by constriction, although unlike true constrictors it does not kill by this method.[5] Smooth snakes are ovoviviparous. The juveniles hatch out of eggs internally and are born live.[6]
In Britain it is restricted to heathland habitats.
^Crnobrnja-Isailović, J.; Ajtic, R.; Vogrin, M.; et al. (2017). "Coronella austriaca". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T157284A748852. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T157284A748852.en. Retrieved 9 June 2022.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abcdSpecies Coronella austriaca at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
^ abcdefStreet D (1979). The Reptiles of Northern and Central Europe. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. 268 pp. ISBN0-7134-1374-3.
^ abSteward JW (1971). The Snakes of Europe. Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Press (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press). 238 pp. LCCCN 77-163307. ISBN0-8386-1023-4.
^Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group smooth snake page 2012-02-23 at the Wayback Machine
^Völkl W, Käsewieter D (2003). Die Schlingnatter ein heimlicher Jäger. – Beiheft der Zeitschrift für Feldherpetologie 6. Bielefeld: Laurenti-Verlag. p. 151. ISBN978-3-933066-15-2. (in German).
^Hvass, Hans, ed. (1970). Danmarks Dyreverden. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde og Bagger.
Further readingedit
Arnold EN, Burton JA (1978). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. (With 351 illustrations, 257 in colour by D.W. Ovenden). London: Collins. 272 pp. + Plates 1-40. ISBN0-00-219318-3. (Coronella austriaca, pp. 204–205 + Plate 38, figure 1 + Map 117).
Boulenger GA (1894). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (Coronella austriaca, pp. 191–193).
Laurenti JN (1768). Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum. Vienna: "Joan. Thom. Nob. de Trattnern". 214 pp. + Plates I-V. (Coronella austriaca, new species, p. 84 + Plate V, figure 1). (in Latin).
Malkmus R (1995). "Coronella austriaca acutirostris subspec. nov. aus dem Nordwesten der Iberischen Halbinsel (Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae) ". Zoologische Abhandlungen, Museum für Tierkunde Dresden48 (3): 265-278. (Coronella austriaca acutirostris, new subspecies). (in German).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smooth snake.
at Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group (SARG). Accessed 5 June 2008.
Coronella austriaca at Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe. Accessed 7 October 2006.
at ARKive. Accessed 7 October 2006.
Smooth Snake – Coronella austriaca at Reptiles and Amphibians of the UK. Accessed 7 October 2006.
at . Accessed 30 October 2006.
Coronella austriaca at Checklist of Armenia's Amphibians and Reptiles, Tadevosyan's Herpetological Resources. Accessed 30 March 2007.
Smooth Snake at Blog posting with two pictures of Coronella austriaca. Accessed 18 July 2007.
Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) at Dissertation abstract about smooth snakes mimicry of vipers being a protective behavior, scaring off some predators. Accessed 15 July 2014
IUCN Red List
February 18, 2024
smooth, snake, this, article, about, animal, other, uses, disambiguation, smooth, snake, coronella, austriaca, species, venomous, snake, family, colubridae, species, found, northern, central, europe, also, east, northern, iran, reptile, database, recognizes, s. This article is about the animal For other uses see Smooth snake disambiguation The smooth snake Coronella austriaca 3 is a species of non venomous snake in the family Colubridae 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 Smooth snakeConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily ColubridaeGenus CoronellaSpecies C austriacaBinomial nameCoronella austriacaLaurenti 1768 2 Range of C austriaca Contents 1 Description 2 Biology 3 Geographic range 4 Subspecies 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 Gallery 9 External linksDescription editBoth sexes of C austriaca grow to an average total length including tail of about 60 cm 24 in to 75 cm 30 in Two specimens measuring 83 cm 33 in have been recorded in Sweden as well as one in Russia that was 92 cm 36 in 3 The head has a rostral scale that is at least as deep as it is wide creating a triangular indentation between the internasal scales rarely separating them The top of the head is covered with nine large plates The nasal scale is often divided There is one rarely two preoculars and two postoculars The temporals number 2 2 or 2 3 rarely 1 2 There are seven rarely eight upper labials of which the third and fourth or fourth and fifth border the eye 3 In the middle part of the body there are 19 rarely 17 or 21 rows of dorsal scales In contrast with many other snakes found in the region these scales are flat not keeled This gives the snake a smooth texture to the touch from which it gets its common name The ventral scales number 150 164 in males and 162 200 in females The anal scale is divided rarely single and the subcaudal scales are paired Males have 54 70 subcaudal scales and females 40 76 3 The colour pattern consists of a brown grey or reddish ground colour 4 with two rows of small rather indistinct dark spots running down the back towards the tail In some cases each pair of spots may be united toward the neck area forming a series of cross bars over the back There is also a very indistinct series of dark spots running along each of the flanks These four series of spots along the body overlay four parallel rather shadowy stripes that also run down the back and flanks 3 On the top of the head is a dark marking which is often in the shape of a crown giving rise to the generic name Coronella which means coronet A relatively thick dark stripe extends from each nostril through the eye and along the side of the head to a little beyond the neck The upper labials are whitish greyish white or light brown sometimes with darker spots The tongue is reddish brown or dark red 3 Biology editThe smooth snake feeds on smaller animals especially other reptiles It subdues larger prey by constriction although unlike true constrictors it does not kill by this method 5 Smooth snakes are ovoviviparous The juveniles hatch out of eggs internally and are born live 6 In Britain it is restricted to heathland habitats Geographic range editCoronella austriaca is found from the south of England through France and the Low Countries to northern Spain and Portugal Germany Norway and Sweden as far north as latitude 63 Latvia Lithuania Estonia Switzerland Austria Italy and Sicily but not in Corsica or Sardinia the western Balkans and Greece and European Russia as far north as latitude 57 In Asia it is found from Turkey to Azerbaijan Georgia Armenia and northern Iran 4 It is oddly absent in Denmark despite the species being found just south of the German border as well as southern Sweden The species is only known from Denmark from 6 specimens all found between 1870 and 1914 7 In Finland the species is found only in Aland and it is not common there citation needed Subspecies editSubspecies 2 Authority 2 Geographic rangeC a austriaca Laurenti 1768C a acutirostris Malkmus 1995 PortugalSee also editList of reptiles of EuropeReferences edit Crnobrnja Isailovic J Ajtic R Vogrin M et al 2017 Coronella austriaca IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T157284A748852 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 2 RLTS T157284A748852 en Retrieved 9 June 2022 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link a b c d Species Coronella austriaca at The Reptile Database www reptile database org a b c d e f Street D 1979 The Reptiles of Northern and Central Europe London B T Batsford Ltd 268 pp ISBN 0 7134 1374 3 a b Steward JW 1971 The Snakes of Europe Cranbury New Jersey Associated University Press Fairleigh Dickinson University Press 238 pp LCCCN 77 163307 ISBN 0 8386 1023 4 Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group smooth snake page Archived 2012 02 23 at the Wayback Machine Volkl W Kasewieter D 2003 Die Schlingnatter ein heimlicher Jager Beiheft der Zeitschrift fur Feldherpetologie 6 Bielefeld Laurenti Verlag p 151 ISBN 978 3 933066 15 2 in German Hvass Hans ed 1970 Danmarks Dyreverden Copenhagen Rosenkilde og Bagger Further reading editArnold EN Burton JA 1978 A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe With 351 illustrations 257 in colour by D W Ovenden London Collins 272 pp Plates 1 40 ISBN 0 00 219318 3 Coronella austriaca pp 204 205 Plate 38 figure 1 Map 117 Boulenger GA 1894 Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum Natural History Volume II Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridae Aglyphae London Trustees of the British Museum Natural History Taylor and Francis printers xi 382 pp Plates I XX Coronella austriaca pp 191 193 Laurenti JN 1768 Specimen medicum exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum Vienna Joan Thom Nob de Trattnern 214 pp Plates I V Coronella austriaca new species p 84 Plate V figure 1 in Latin Malkmus R 1995 Coronella austriaca acutirostris subspec nov aus dem Nordwesten der Iberischen Halbinsel Reptilia Serpentes Colubridae Zoologische Abhandlungen Museum fur Tierkunde Dresden 48 3 265 278 Coronella austriaca acutirostris new subspecies in German Gallery edit nbsp Head of C austriaca nbsp C austriaca in Hungary nbsp C austriaca in Bosnia and Herzegovina nbsp C austriaca curled up nbsp Subadult C austriaca in northern Germany External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smooth snake Smooth snake Coronella austriaca at Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group SARG Accessed 5 June 2008 Coronella austriaca at Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe Accessed 7 October 2006 Smooth snake Coronella austriaca at ARKive Accessed 7 October 2006 Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca at Reptiles and Amphibians of the UK Accessed 7 October 2006 Smooth snake Coronella austriaca at Reptiles amp Amphibians of France Accessed 30 October 2006 Coronella austriaca at Checklist of Armenia s Amphibians and Reptiles Tadevosyan s Herpetological Resources Accessed 30 March 2007 Smooth Snake at Blog posting with two pictures of Coronella austriaca Accessed 18 July 2007 Smooth snake Coronella austriaca at Dissertation abstract about smooth snakes mimicry of vipers being a protective behavior scaring off some predators Accessed 15 July 2014 IUCN Red List Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Smooth snake amp oldid 1153343556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
