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Grass snake

The grass snake has a variable back pattern with spots and blotches of variable sizes.

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

The GRASS SNAKE's total (body+tail) length can get up to 120 cm, but generally shorter. Highly diverse body coloration. Ground colour grey, brown, ochre, greenish or black with speckles or blotches of various sizes on the entire dorsal surface. Conspicuous yellow, orange or white partial collar, usually bordered with black. Pupil round and black, with yellow or orange iris. Some specimens have two light, yellow or white lines along edges of back. Specimens in Belső-Somogy may be jet black. Belly white and black chequered. Dorsal scales keeled. k. Males and females similar, but orange belly usually signifies males, which may also have ring markings (ocelli). Young are similar to adults, but sometimes darker.

Distibution map by our National Herpetological Mapping Program:

Grass snake

The grass snake has conspicuous yellow nuchal blotches bordered with additional black ones on both sides of the back of the head.

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Yound grass snake

Some specimens have two light stripes along the sides of the back.

(Photo: Judit Vörös)

Nuchal blotches of a young grass snake

The crescent shaped nuchal blotch can be yellow, orange or whitish.

(Photo: Judit Vörös)

Basking grass snake

Often seen basking on banks of rivers and ponds.

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Grass snake in defensive posture

Its belly has a "piano keys" pattern, which can be seen on this defensively posing grass snake.

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Melanistic colour morph of grass snake

The melanistic, totally black, colour morph is rare in grass snakes.

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Posing as dead

When attacked they try to flee or feign death.

(Photo: Ákos Baracsy)

Gass snake and smooth snake

Grass snakes are often confused with smooth snakes or dice snakes, however their yellow nuchal bloches distinguish them from other snakes in Hungary. However, young Aesculapian snakes have similar yellow temporal blotches, but without black ones.

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Grass snake swallowing a tree-frog

Frogs are the most common prey items.

(photo: Judit Vörös)

Attentive grass snake

They often bask on the shores of marshes or water-bodies, usually on logwoods.

(photo: Tibor Kovács)

Grass snake eggs

Hatched eggs of grass snake in a swamp.

(photo: Tibor Kovács)