Southern smooth snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern smooth snake |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Coronella
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| Species: |
girondica
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The southern smooth snake (scientific name: Coronella girondica) is a type of snake that doesn't hurt people. It belongs to a big group of snakes called the Colubridae family. This snake is special because it only lives in certain parts of the world: southern Europe and northern Africa. It's also known as Riccioli's snake.
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Where the Southern Smooth Snake Lives
The southern smooth snake can be found in several countries. These include Spain, Portugal, and the southern part of France. You can also find it in Monaco and Italy. In northern Africa, it lives in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The first time this snake was officially described was in Bordeaux, France.
What the Southern Smooth Snake Looks Like
The southern smooth snake has a body that can be brown, grayish, or reddish. It often has dark brown or black stripes or spots across its back. On the back of its neck, there's usually a dark mark shaped like a "U" or two long dark spots.
It also has a dark line that goes from its eye to the corner of its mouth. Another dark band runs from one eye to the other across the top of its head. There's also a black line right below its eye. The snake's belly is yellowish or red with black marks.
Its scales are smooth and are arranged in 21 rows, though sometimes there are 19 rows. Adult snakes can grow up to 62 centimeters (about 2 feet) long. About 12.5 centimeters (5 inches) of that length is its tail.
Where the Southern Smooth Snake Makes Its Home
Southern smooth snakes like to live in different kinds of places. They can be found in cool forests and areas with Mediterranean-style bushes. They also like rocky places, open fields where animals graze, and even farms with planted crops.
Sometimes, these snakes are in danger because their natural homes are being destroyed.
How We Protect the Southern Smooth Snake
The southern smooth snake is listed as "Least Concern" (LC) by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means that experts believe there are many of these snakes around. Their population is not decreasing quickly enough to be in a more serious danger category. This assessment was made in 2005.
See also
- List of reptiles of Italy
