Four-lined snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Four-lined snake |
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| Genus: |
Elaphe
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| Species: |
quatuorlineata
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The four-lined snake (scientific name: Elaphe quatuorlineata) is a fascinating reptile. It is also sometimes called the Bulgarian ratsnake. This snake belongs to a group of snakes called Colubridae. It is not poisonous and is actually one of the biggest snakes you can find in Europe!
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What Does It Look Like?
The four-lined snake gets its name from the cool markings on its body. Adult snakes have four dark stripes that run along their yellowish-brown bodies.
Younger snakes look a bit different. They have dark brown blotches on their backs. They also have dark brown spots on their sides, all on a pale brown background. A black line goes from their eye to the corner of their mouth. Their belly is usually creamy white with some darker marks.
These snakes can grow quite long! Adults often reach about 180 cm (5 ft 11 in). Sometimes, they can even grow up to 200 cm (6 ft 7 in). They are among the heaviest snakes in Europe. Their size can vary a lot. Males might weigh from 250 to 1,000 g (0.6 to 2.2 lb), and females from 400 to 1,400 g (0.9 to 3.1 lb).
Where Do They Live?
You can find four-lined snakes in many parts of Europe. They live in Italy and along the western coast of the Balkan peninsula. They are also found in the western half of Greece and on many Greek islands.
Other places where they live include Macedonia (region), the southwestern part of Bulgaria, coastal Slovenia, and coastal Croatia. They also make their homes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Albania. We don't know exactly how many of these snakes there are, or how many live in each area.
Home and Habits
Four-lined snakes love places with a Mediterranean climate. This means areas that are warm and sunny. They like habitats with lots of plants, old stone walls, and open woodlands. You might also find them at the edges of forests or in deserted buildings.
When winter comes, these snakes like to stay warm. They often gather in groups of four to seven in old rodent burrows. They are usually quite calm snakes. They don't often hiss or try to strike. They are most active in the morning and late afternoon. These snakes are also excellent climbers. You can often spot them high up in trees!
What Do They Eat?
These snakes are good hunters. A big part of their diet is small mammals. This includes animals like rabbits, weasels, squirrels, and mice. They also enjoy eating birds, lizards, and even newly hatched tortoises. Sometimes, they will eat eggs too. Interestingly, female snakes seem to eat more birds than male snakes do.
Life Cycle
The mating season for four-lined snakes happens in spring, from April to May. After mating, the female snake carries her eggs for about two months. She lays her eggs in the summer.
A female snake usually lays between 6 and 18 eggs. She then incubates them for about 40 to 60 days. This means she keeps them warm until they are ready to hatch.
Are They in Danger?
The four-lined snake is considered "Near Threatened" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means they are not in immediate danger of disappearing, but their numbers might be going down.
In Bulgaria, for example, they have been considered endangered. This is mainly because of people illegally catching them (poaching) and changes to their homes due to farming. Losing their natural habitat is a big problem for these snakes.
