Tessellated Water Snake
Natrix tessellata
To deter predators, this snake is a master actor; it will roll onto its back, let its tongue hang out, and emit a putrid musk to perfectly mimic a rotting corpse.
- Scientific name
- Natrix tessellata
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Reptilia › Squamata › Colubridae › Natrix
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, and brackish coastal waters with abundant vegetation.
- Diet
- Primarily fish (piscivorous), occasionally consuming amphibians.
- Range
- Southern Europe, Central Europe, Western Asia, Middle East, Central Asia
- Size
- 75 to 100 cm in length, with females being significantly larger than males.
- Lifespan
- 10 to 15 years in the wild
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Water pollution, wetland drainage, river canalization, and human persecution due to mistaken identity as venomous vipers.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and non-venomous. If encountered, maintain a respectful distance of 1-2 meters. If cornered, it may hiss loudly, secrete a foul-smelling musk, or play dead (thanatosis). It rarely bites, but if bitten, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water to prevent infection.
The dice snake ( Natrix tessellata ) is a European nonvenomous snake belonging to the family Colubridae, subfamily Natricinae.
Photo: carnifex, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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