Barred grass snake


The barred grass snake is a non-venomous colubrid snake from Western Europe, living in and close to water. It was included within the grass snake species, Natrix natrix, until August 2017, when genetic analysis suggested that it was better treated as a separate species.

Description

The barred grass snake has distinct banding along its flanks for the entire length of its body and it lacks the bright yellow collar of the similar Natrix natrix. The body colour is grey rather than the olive green of Natrix natrix. The snake, which eats amphibians like newts and frogs, can grow to a length of over a metre. An adult barred grass snake has a defensive ability called Neck Flattering commonly known as "hooding" similar to that in other species and in cobras which acts as recognising factor for them.

Distribution

The species is found in Great Britain as far north as southern Scotland, the Netherlands, western Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France. Among the subspecies, N. h. helvetica has the widest distribution range: from Britain and covers from the Pyrenees all the way to the Rhine region.

Subspecies

Five subspecies of Natrix natrix were transferred to Natrix helvetica: