Central Europe - encounter with a viper or some harmless snake?

[mtber]

I often mountain bike around Prague in the Czech Republic. I keep meeting these wonderful creatures on many of my +/-summer rides. They often sit or very slowly attempt to cross bike paths. These paths are quite busy in the summer. So I often find myself blocking the path of other angry, shouting cyclists while I try to shoo these snakes back into the bushes so that they don't get trampeled or run over by the local angry mob of apathetic cyclists.

I'm trying to figure out whether I'm dealing with the common European adder (vipera berus) or whether this is some type of harmless grass snake. I don't have enough knowledge about reptiles to tell them apart.

Can anyone positively identify these snakes?

snake #1 ~20cm in length





snake #2 ~40cm (maybe 50 not sure) in length


I've seen a fatter one than these though the 40cm specimen was the longest .

[Minkness]

Almost looks like a type of garter to me...but I am by no means an expert. Beautiful snake though!

[SnoopySnake]

I'm not too educated on snakes in other countries but a quick google search leads me to believe that the first one is natrix natrix-grass snake and the second one looks like a natrix tessellata-Dice snake, I'm not sure if those are correct but they're definitely not European adders.

[FWK]

Originally Posted by SnoopySnake

I'm not too educated on snakes in other countries but a quick google search leads me to believe that the first one is natrix natrix-grass snake and the second one looks like a natrix tessellata-Dice snake, I'm not sure if those are correct but they're definitely not European adders.

Agreed and agreed, Grass Snakes and Dice Snakes are very widespread in Europe and very common throughout their range. European Adders have a very distinct zig-zag pattern on their back that runs the length of their body. Google European Adder and you'll see it right away. Great pics, and if you do come across an Adder or anything else be sure to share.

[Tsubaki]

Pretty sure the first animal is a Natrix Maura. Harmless ring necked snake, we have them here too... Second is definitely the Natrix Tessellata very common in Czech republic.

[FWK]

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

Pretty sure the first animal is a Natrix Maura. Harmless ring necked snake, we have them here too... Second is definitely the Natrix Tessellata very common in Czech republic.

I think you may have the common names mixed up, Natrix natrix is commonly called Grass Snake or Ring Necked Snake. Natrix maura is called Viperine Snake. Natrix maura are not found in the Czech Republic and look more like a Dice Snake than a Grass Snake, they have a classic Water Snake head shape with the eyes set high on the sides of the head and rather pronounced "lips" (enlarged upper and lower labials). A Grass Snakes head is much more blunt and the supraocular scales are larger, almost forming an eyebrow.

[Tsubaki]

Originally Posted by FWK

I think you may have the common names mixed up, Natrix natrix is commonly called Grass Snake or Ring Necked Snake. Natrix maura is called Viperine Snake. Natrix maura are not found in the Czech Republic and look more like a Dice Snake than a Grass Snake, they have a classic Water Snake head shape with the eyes set high on the sides of the head and rather pronounced "lips" (enlarged upper and lower labials). A Grass Snakes head is much more blunt and the supraocular scales are larger, almost forming an eyebrow.

We call the Natrix Maura 'Ringnek slang' or ringed neck snake, so i do not have them mixed up.. That is why i included the latin name, you can not expect every country to have the same common name.

You're right it's more likely to be a Natrix Natrix, however, i wouldnt say they cant be in Czech though! I have found specimens pretty far into eastern Germany.

[Chub_by]

That is Natrix Natrix.

[FWK]

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

We call the Natrix Maura 'Ringnek slang' or ringed neck snake, so i do not have them mixed up.. That is why i included the latin name, you can not expect every country to have the same common name.

You're right it's more likely to be a Natrix Natrix, however, i wouldnt say they cant be in Czech though! I have found specimens pretty far into eastern Germany.

I got you, that is good to know.

I'm sure it would be possible for a Natrix Maura to find its way to Czech at some point but it would be a new range extension (assuming my references are current).

[Roman]

Pics one and two are definitely Natrix natrix (Eng. Gras snake, German Ringelnatter), most likely Natrix natrix natrix. The third pic is Natrix tessellata (English Dice snake, German Wuerfelnatter).

It can’t be Natrix maura, because the range of N. maura in Europe is from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal, southern France, parts of Switzerland to north-western Italy. It doesn’t reach Germany, Austria or the Czech Republic (or the Netherlands for that matter).

Natrix natrix ranges pretty much through all of Europe with the exception of the northern parts and Natrix tessellata ranges from some isolated locations in Germany, throughout Austria, Italy, the Balkan peninsula and from there eastwards up to China. I could not find a reference for the Czech Republic but as it can be found in east Germany as well as in Austria there is no great distance to Prague.


Roman

[mtber]

Thanks for all the response guys!

I've been looking at Natrix natrix and that patch of yellow at the base of their head as well as the patterns on their body seem to match almost perfectly. Also their choice of described habitat is spot on: directly next to a fresh water river.

Looking at more videos and pics of the vipera berus does make it seems very different all of a sudden, but I'm glad you tell me the one I encountered are relatively harmless.. (though I would still really like to meet an actual adder)

I was completely unaware that snake #2 was actually different from the first. I figured it was simply a more fully grown version of snake #1. Though the markings on the head seem quite different. The other fatter snake I mentioned that I had seen was more similar to the 2nd. (it appeared to be dead so I didn't bother taking a picture of it.. though perhaps it just fooled me... )

Are both types harmless and docile enough for me to lift up with a stick so I can place them out of harms way the next time I meet them on the path? I don't really want to get bitten, but I'm assuming they have tiny trivial fangs if they are non-venomous..

[FWK]

They are completely harmless, but if they are anything like the Water Snakes and Garters we have on this side of the pond they will probably not hesitate to bite and musk (poop all over you). Their teeth are very small and will only draw small drops of blood. Don't jerk back if they bite, you could hurt the snake and you'll probably have to spend some time digging tiny teeth out of your skin lol. Obviously do not attempt to handle anything if you are not 100% sure of your ID. I've seen videos of both Dice Snakes and Grass Snakes playing dead also, that would be pretty cool to see in person.

[Roman]

Originally Posted by FWK

They are completely harmless, but if they are anything like the Water Snakes and Garters we have on this side of the pond they will probably not hesitate to bite and musk (poop all over you). Their teeth are very small and will only draw small drops of blood. Don't jerk back if they bite, you could hurt the snake and you'll probably have to spend some time digging tiny teeth out of your skin lol. Obviously do not attempt to handle anything if you are not 100% sure of your ID. I've seen videos of both Dice Snakes and Grass Snakes playing dead also, that would be pretty cool to see in person.

They are more likely to musk or to play dead then to bite. They might bite but they are not as prone to do so as the North American water snakes are. Especially the Gras snake “dies” a sudden, horrible death if you lift it, only to make it’s escape as soon as possible, they are nearly as god as a hognose…

So it would be probably be the best to just let them go their way. If you want to get them away from a walkway get a stick to lift them. Be sure that they are either a Gras snake or a Dice snake. If you can see the eyes and the snake has round pupils it is harmless, if the pupil is only a slit like a cat’s eye during the day it is a viper and venomous (this is only a propper key for identification of harmless snakes for Europe, outside Europe there are also venomous snakes with round pupils and harmless snakes with slits).

Roman

[CKC44]

Very pretty snake. Thank you for stopping the other cyclists - we need more people like you.