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Biology

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This snake is extremely secretive, spending much of its time in a variety of crevices and holes in the ground (7), under stones (6), in loose sand and soil (2) and concealed in litter and vegetation (7). When basking, they often wrap themselves around heather in order to camouflage themselves (6). The diet consists of lizards, small mammals, and snakes (including other smooth snakes), which are caught by a quick strike and subdued by being squeezed in coils of the body. Prey is then swallowed whilst alive. Juveniles feed entirely on reptile prey, and this factor may restrict the range of the species to areas where reptile densities are sufficiently high (2). Very little is known about the reproduction of this species; it is thought that they breed every other year (7), and mating occurs in April, May and early June. Smooth snakes are ovoviviparous; eggs are produced but the young hatch out of these internally and are born live (6) in September and October (7). The young snakes may hibernate immediately after birth, emerging the following year usually in March (2).
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Conservation

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The heathlands of southern England have been the focus of a concerted conservation effort since the 1970s. Volunteer groups organised by the British Herpetological Society and The Herpetological Conservation Trust's professional team have carried out appropriate management such as scrub clearance and the creation of bare sand patches and mown areas which act as fire breaks (7). A reversion to management by low-intensity grazing to maintain heathland is receiving much interest, but it is unknown how this will impact on the smooth snake (2). An action plan has been developed, although this snake is not an official UK Biodiversity Action Plan species.
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Description

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This non-venomous snake is very rare in the UK, and is superficially similar in appearance to the adder (Vipera berus), but can be distinguished by a number of features including a rounder head and longer, slender build. It is brown or grey in colour and has dark spots on the upper surface rather than the zig-zag patterning characteristic of the adder. The eye has a round golden iris and the head is brown with a black crown and eye stripes (6). The common name 'smooth snake' refers to the scales, which lack the keel of the other British snakes (2).
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Habitat

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In Britain the smooth snake is found in dense stands of mature heather on dry, sandy or gravely heathland sites (2). They also occur in humid heaths and bogs next to dry heath (7).
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Range

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The smooth snake is widely distributed in Europe, but has a very restricted range in Britain, which reflects the distribution of southern heaths (7), and is found only in Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey (2), with a reintroduced population in West Sussex (7). In the last century the British range has decreased; the species has been lost from Wiltshire and Berkshire (2) and there are historic records from Devon (7).
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Status

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Listed under Appendix II of the Bern Convention (3), Annex IVa of the EC Habitats Directive, Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (4), and Schedule 2 of the Conservation Regulations 1994 (5).
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Threats

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The main cause of the decrease in the range of this snake has been the widespread loss of suitable heathland sites due to development and the creation of conifer plantations (2). On remaining heathland, major problems arise due to the small size of populations, which are unable to recover after fires and other sudden events (7). Neglect and inappropriate management such as over-grazing, or poor fire prevention can lead to scrub invasion and loss of habitat structure. It can take more than 15 years for a heath to recover the mature stands of heather required by the smooth snake (2).
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Distribution

provided by ReptileDB
Continent: Europe Near-East Asia
Distribution: Finland, S Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, S England, N Spain, N Portugal, France, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia), Hungary, Yugoslavia: Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Hercegowina, Monte Negro, Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece (incl. Samothraki), Albania, Turkey Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, W Kazakhstan, N Asia Minor, N Iran acutirostris: Portugal
Type locality: Vienna, Austria
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Smooth snake

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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]

Description

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]

Biology

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.

Geographic range

Coronella 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 Åland, and it is not common there.

Subspecies

Subspecies[2] Authority[2] Geographic range C. a. austriaca Laurenti, 1768 C. a. acutirostris Malkmus, 1995 Portugal

See also

References

  1. ^ 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)
  2. ^ a b c d Species Coronella austriaca at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group smooth snake page Archived 2012-02-23 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Völkl W, Käsewieter D (2003). Die Schlingnatter ein heimlicher Jäger. – Beiheft der Zeitschrift für Feldherpetologie 6. Bielefeld: Laurenti-Verlag. p. 151. ISBN 978-3-933066-15-2. (in German).
  7. ^ Hvass, Hans, ed. (1970). Danmarks Dyreverden. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde og Bagger.
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Smooth snake: Brief Summary

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The smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) 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.

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