Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'd like to identify a black and white checkered snake I saw in long grass in southern France = quite hot!

Just got a glimpse of it, probably 1 1/2" dia....

Any ideas / on line catalogue I could look in??

Thanks

I would guess Natrix natrix, or European Grass Snake.

A couple of possibilities. Try doing an online search to find pics of some of these species

Western Whipsnake - Coluber viridiflavus - more of a black and yellow snake, but could appear white in the sun (some populations are jet black, but others are yellow and black checkered)

Viperine Snake - Natrix maura - again more gray and black than black and white.

Asp - Vipera aspis - males could be light gray with black crossbars, but they aren't checkered.

Aesculapean Snake - Elaphe longissima - some of these snakes can be quite dark and have white spots between the scales. I doubt you would call them "checkered" however.

I think the Western Whipsnake (Coluber) is the most likely culprit.
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Chris Harrison

Many thanks for the responses - I think the Viper Aspis Atra or Aspis Aspis is the closest - It's common in Southern Europe, and many pictures show a clear black / white marking.

I'll keep wearing the heavy boots and get the grass cut ASAP (it's 3ft high at the moment so hard to see much)!

Some useful info on what to do: http://www.toxinology.com/fusebox.cfm?fuseaction=main.snakes.display&id=SN0241

Picture link below I hope.

Charles

Coluber/Hierophis viridiflavus seems most likely to me. V. aspis are more often than not brownish rather than whitish, and tend not to occur along the Mediterranean Coast itself.

Check the pics at the link below:

http://www.reptiles.de/Hierophis viridiflavus.htm

How big was the snake, and how fast? V. aspis are small (usually 50-60 cm) and relatively slow-moving, whereas C. viridiflavus gets to 5 ft or more, and is fast-moving.

Cheers,

Wolfgang
Reptiles.de - Hierophis viridiflavus

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WW

WW Home

It was large body (1 1/2" thick) but I didn't see it move, though I heard it slide away.

Could be like your picture labelled Copyright by W. Straussman.

Thanks - this is a more re-assuring variety as I gather its a harmless grassnake (though it would be far larger than any I have seen before in UK)

I have a hectare of grass - over 1m high by June - around a house for restoration, so plenty of time to meet it again..... I assume it will keep well clear of strimmers and mowers whatever it is!!!

Its SouthWest France, near Dordogne

Charles