# Smooth snake

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This article is about the animal. For other uses, see [Smooth snake (disambiguation)](/source/Smooth_snake_(disambiguation)).

The **smooth snake** (***Coronella austriaca***)[2] is a [species](/source/Species) of non-[venomous snake](/source/Venomous_snake) in the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Colubridae](/source/Colubridae). The species is found in northern and central Europe, but also as far east as northern Iran. The [Reptile Database](/source/Reptile_Database) recognizes two [subspecies](/source/Subspecies) as being valid, including the [nominotypical subspecies](/source/Nominotypical_subspecies) described here.[1]

## Subspecies

There are two subspecies:[1]

Subspecies Distribution C. a. austriaca Laurenti, 1768 C. a. acutirostris Malkmus, 1995 Portugal

## Geographic range

*Coronella austriaca* is found from the [south of England](/source/Southern_England) through France and the [Low Countries](/source/Low_Countries) to northern Spain and Portugal, Germany, Norway and Sweden (as far north as latitude 63°), Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and [Sicily](/source/Sicily) (but not in [Corsica](/source/Corsica) or [Sardinia](/source/Sardinia)), the western [Balkans](/source/Balkans) and Greece, and [European Russia](/source/European_Russia) as far north as latitude 57°. In Asia, it is found from Turkey to [Azerbaijan](/source/Azerbaijan), [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(country)), [Armenia](/source/Armenia) and northern Iran.[3] It is absent in Denmark despite the species being found just south of the German border as well as in southern Sweden. The species is only known from Denmark from 6 specimens, all found between 1870 and 1914.[4]

In Finland, the species is found only in [Åland](/source/%C3%85land), and it is not common there.[citation needed]

## Description

Both sexes of *C. austriaca* grow to an average total length (including tail) of about 60 cm (24 in) to 75 cm (30 in). Two specimens measuring 83 cm (33 in) have been recorded in Sweden, as well as one in Russia that was 92 cm (36 in).[2]

The head has a [rostral scale](/source/Rostral_scale) that is at least as deep as it is wide, creating a triangular indentation between the [internasal scales](/source/Internasal_scales) (rarely separating them). The top of the head is covered with nine large plates. The [nasal scale](/source/Nasal_scale) is often divided. There is one (rarely two) [preoculars](/source/Preoculars) and two [postoculars](/source/Postoculars). The [temporals](/source/Temporal_scales) number 2+2 or 2+3 (rarely 1+2). There are seven (rarely eight) [upper labials](/source/Upper_labials), of which the third and fourth or fourth and fifth border the eye.[2]In the middle part of the body there are 19 (rarely 17 or 21) rows of [dorsal scales](/source/Dorsal_scales). In contrast with many other snakes found in the region, these scales are flat (not keeled). This gives the snake a smooth texture to the touch, from which it gets its common name. The [ventral scales](/source/Ventral_scales) number 150–164 in males and 162–200 in females. The [anal scale](/source/Anal_scale) is divided (rarely single) and the [subcaudal scales](/source/Subcaudal_scales) are paired. Males have 54–70 subcaudal scales and females 40–76.[2]

The colour pattern consists of a brown, grey or reddish ground colour[3] with two rows of small, rather indistinct dark spots running down the back towards the tail. In some cases, each pair of spots may be united toward the neck area, forming a series of cross-bars over the back. There is also a very indistinct series of dark spots running along each of the flanks. These four series of spots along the body overlay four parallel, rather shadowy stripes that also run down the back and flanks.[2]

On the top of the head is a dark marking which is often in the shape of a crown, giving rise to the [generic](/source/Genus) name *Coronella* (which means [coronet](/source/Coronet)). A relatively thick dark stripe extends from each nostril, through the eye, and along the side of the head to a little beyond the neck. The upper labials are whitish, greyish-white or light brown, sometimes with darker spots. The tongue is reddish brown or dark red.[2]

## Biology

The smooth snake feeds on smaller animals, especially other reptiles. It subdues larger prey by constriction, although unlike true [constrictors](/source/Constriction) it does not kill by this method.[5] Smooth snakes are [ovoviviparous](/source/Ovoviviparity): the juveniles hatch out of eggs internally and are born live.[6]

In Britain it is restricted to [heathland](/source/Heathland) habitats.

## See also

- [List of reptiles of Europe](/source/List_of_reptiles_of_Europe)

## References

1. . www.reptile-database.org.

1. Street D (1979). *The Reptiles of Northern and Central Europe*. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. 268 pp. ISBN 0-7134-1374-3.

1. Steward JW (1971). *The Snakes of Europe*. Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Press (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press). 238 pp. LCCCN 77-163307. ISBN 0-8386-1023-4.

1. Hvass, Hans (ed.) (1970). *Danmarks Dyreverden*. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde og Bagger.

1. [Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group smooth snake page](http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/cgi-bin/SARG2ReptileSpeciesData.asp?Species=Smooth_Snake) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120223090606/http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/cgi-bin/SARG2ReptileSpeciesData.asp?Species=Smooth_Snake) 2012-02-23 at the Wayback Machine

1. Völkl W, Käsewieter D (2003). *Die Schlingnatter ein heimlicher Jäger. – Beiheft der Zeitschrift für Feldherpetologie 6*. Bielefeld: Laurenti-Verlag. p. 151. ISBN 978-3-933066-15-2. (in German).

## Further reading

- [Arnold EN](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Nicholas_Arnold), Burton JA (1978). *A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe*. (With 351 illustrations, 257 in colour by [D.W. Ovenden](/source/Denys_Ovenden)). London: Collins. 272 pp. + Plates 1-40. ISBN 0-00-219318-3. (*Coronella austriaca*, pp. 204–205 + Plate 38, figure 1 + Map 117).
- [Boulenger GA](/source/George_Albert_Boulenger) (1894). *Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ.* London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (*Coronella austriaca*, pp. 191–193).
- [Laurenti JN](/source/Josephus_Nicolaus_Laurenti) (1768). *Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum.* Vienna: "Joan. Thom. Nob. de Trattnern". 214 pp. + Plates I-V. (*Coronella austriaca*, new species, p. 84 + Plate V, figure 1). (in Latin).
- [Malkmus R](/source/Rudolf_Malkmus) (1995). "Coronella austriaca acutirostris *subspec. nov. aus dem Nordwesten der Iberischen Halbinsel (Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae)* ". *Zoologische Abhandlungen, Museum für Tierkunde Dresden* **48** (3): 265-278. (*Coronella austriaca acutirostris*, new subspecies). (in German).

## External links

- [Smooth snake (*Coronella austriaca*)](https://web.archive.org/web/20120223090606/http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/cgi-bin/SARG2ReptileSpeciesData.asp?Species=Smooth_Snake) at [Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group (SARG)](http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/). Accessed 5 June 2008.
- [*Coronella austriaca*](http://www.herp.it/indexjs.htm?SpeciesPages/CoronAustr.htm) at [Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe](http://www.herp.it/). Accessed 7 October 2006.
- [Smooth snake (*Coronella austriaca*)](https://web.archive.org/web/20060626110814/http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/reptiles/Coronella_austriaca/) at [ARKive](https://archive.today/20160426231847/http://www.arkive.org/). Accessed 7 October 2006.
- [Smooth Snake – *Coronella austriaca*](http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/smooth_snake.htm) at [Reptiles and Amphibians of the UK](http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/). Accessed 7 October 2006.
- [Smooth snake, *Coronella austriaca*](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210223834/http://www.reptilia-amphibia.net/index.html?en%2Fsnake%2Faustriaca.html~mainFrame) at [Reptiles & Amphibians of France](https://web.archive.org/web/20070808155828/http://www.reptilia-amphibia.net/). Accessed 30 October 2006.
- [*Coronella austriaca*](http://www.herp-am.narod.ru/Species/ca.htm) at [Checklist of Armenia's Amphibians and Reptiles, Tadevosyan's Herpetological Resources](http://www.herp-am.narod.ru/Species/ca.htm). Accessed 30 March 2007.
- [Smooth Snake](http://www.hildenborg.com/?p=182) at [Blog posting with two pictures of *Coronella austriaca*](http://www.hildenborg.com/?p=182). Accessed 18 July 2007.
- [Smooth snake (*Coronella austriaca*)](https://kirjasto.jyu.fi/kauppa/tuotteet/warning-signalling-in-european-vipers-and-their-mimics) at [Dissertation abstract about smooth snakes mimicry of vipers being a protective behavior, scaring off some predators.](https://kirjasto.jyu.fi/kauppa/tuotteet/warning-signalling-in-european-vipers-and-their-mimics) Accessed 15 July 2014
- [IUCN Red List](http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/157284/1)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Smooth snake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_snake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_snake?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.