Smooth snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smooth snake |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
 |
|
| Range of C. austriaca |
The smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) is a special type of snake found in parts of Europe and western Asia. It gets its name because its scales are very smooth to the touch, unlike many other snakes that have rougher scales. This snake is not venomous, meaning it's not dangerous to humans.
Contents
About the Smooth Snake
The smooth snake is a kind of colubrid snake. This is a large family of snakes that includes many non-venomous types. Unlike some other snakes, the smooth snake has flat scales. This makes its skin feel very smooth when you touch it, which is how it got its common name.
Where They Live
You can find smooth snakes in many places, from northern and central Europe all the way to northern Iran. In Britain, they only live in the southern heathlands. These are open areas with low-growing plants, which the snakes like because they are warm and sunny.
What They Eat
Smooth snakes are hunters. They mostly eat smaller animals, especially other reptiles like lizards and other snakes. When they catch larger prey, they wrap around it tightly. This is called constriction. Even though they constrict their prey, they don't actually kill it this way, unlike some other snakes like boa constrictors.
How They Reproduce
Smooth snakes reproduce by laying eggs. The female snake buries her eggs in a warm place, often in sand, to keep them safe and help them hatch.
Images for kids
-
Head of C. austriaca.
-
C. austriaca in Hungary.
-
C. austriaca in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
-
C. austriaca curled up.
-
Subadult C. austriaca in northern Germany.
_feje.jpg)
3.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Culebra lisa europea para niños
