Spain is a good place to start your vacation. There are beaches, delicious food, and an amazing climate. Snakes in Spain could ruin your leisure, so you must be careful with the snakes to enjoy your holidays because there are venomous snakes in Spain that can give you critical health problems. This article will provide detailed information on all the venomous and nonvenomous Snakes in Spain.
Snakes In Spain
- Seoane’s Viper
- Aesculapian Snake
- Montpellier Snake
- Smooth Snake
- Asp Viper
- Green Whip Snake
- Laatste’s Viper
- Viperine Snake
- False Smooth Snake
- Ladder Snake
- Horseshoe Whip Snake
- Grass Snake
1 – Soane’s Viper
Scientific Name Vipera seoanei
Lifespan 10 – 15 Years
Length 40 – 50 cm
Diet Birds & Their Eggs, Rabbits, Insects, Lizards, Rodents, Frogs
The Seoane’s Viper, also known as the Buskain Viper, are a venomous snake in Spain, Portugal, and Western France. They are secretive snakes and are very hard to spot. The Seoane’s Viper has multiple patterns. They can have a brown zig-zag pattern, all brown from top to bottom, or a striped pattern. Their design is similar to the pythons, but they can be differentiated by looking at the head and the length.
Seoane’s Viper is considered one of the most venomous snakes in Spain. Their bite can be very frustrating. However, the venom effect varies from species to species, but researchers have found that the Seoane’s Viper from northern Spain is more venomous than other species. However, their bite is not venomous enough to kill a human, but in some cases, it can give serious effects. If you see one, staying away from this Snake would be better.
2 – Aesculapian Snake
Scientific Name Zamenis Longissimus
Lifespan 20 – 25 Years
Length 110 – 160 cm
Diet Birds & Their Eggs, Insects, Rodents, Chrews, Moles, and Other Snakes (Rarely)
The Aesculapian are nonvenomous snakes in Spain. They are mostly found in the southern parts of Spain. They are bronze in color with shiny scales that give them a metallic look. However, the younger Aesculapian Snakes are a little brownish-green with black patterns on the back. The Aesculapian Snake is diurnal and mostly lives in forests, hilly areas, and grasslands.
They are harmless snakes. However, they only bite when they feel threatened, but it does not affect human life but will give swelling and a small wound that can be healed using ointments. The Aesculapian Snakes usually come out in the evening during summers and in the morning during winters. They are great climbers and can climb vertically on a branchless tree.
3 – Montpellier Snake
Scientific Name Malpolon Monspessulanus
Lifespan 10 -15 Years
Length 150 – 200 cm
Diet Small Mammals, Lizards, Chicks, Rodents, Insects,
The Montpellier are venomous snakes in Spain and is common in the Mediterranean. Their venom is mild and does not put human life in danger. However, the bite may give some Envenomations. They have large round eyes with beautiful scales all over their body and has a stern look. They can be recognized easily by looking at their eyes.
Montpellier Snakes are mostly found in urban areas, grasslands, and vegetated lands. They are diurnal snakes and mostly come out in the evening to hunt. Like all other snakes, the Montpellier Snake will bite when it feels threatened. However, if they are not handled or teased, they will not bite.
4 – Smooth Snake
Scientific Name Coronella austriaca
Lifespan 25 – 30 Years
Length 60 – 70 cm
Diet Lizards, Small Mammals, Frogs, Insects, Small Birds
Coronella austriaca is a nonvenomous snake in Spain, Central and northern Europe, and Iran. They are known to have a crown-shaped black marking on their head. They are grey or dark brown with smooth scales that are dark brown from the edges. They are good with camouflage. They can hide in trees and behind leaves. They are harmless snakes, don’t bite even when threatened, and tend to stay calm and motionless. Smooth Snake’s mating season starts in early May or June. They are ovoviviparous, which means that they give live birth.
5 – Asp Viper
Scientific Name Vipera aspis
Lifespan 8 – 7 Years
Length 60 – 65 cm
Diet Lizards, Insects, Small Birds, Frogs, Shrews, Moles
Asp Vipers are venomous snakes in Spain on the Pyrenees mountain range. It would help if you did not mess with the Asp Viper because they attack instantly when they feel threatened, and their bite is fatal. Some symptoms may include unconscious disorder. Medical help should be provided immediately after being bitten. These snakes are considered one of the most dangerous snakes in Spain. They have broad triangular heads and are light brown with dark patterns on their body. However, the Asp Vipers are secretive and shy snakes and are not seen most of the time.
6 – Green Whip Snake
Scientific Name Hierophis viridiflavus
Lifespan 17 – 20 Years
Length 100 -150 cm
Diet Lizards, Mice, Frogs, Skinks, Birds, Insects, Hamsters, Toads
Green Whip are nonvenomous snakes in Spain, France, Croatia, and Switzerland. They have small, well-defined heads. They are greenish-yellow in color and have dark patterns all over their body. Green Whip snakes do not bite until and unless they feel threatened. However, their bite is only toxic if they bite continuously for 5 minutes. They are diurnal and come out in the morning in search of food. They only eat once every week. They usually live in shrublands, tempered forests, vegetation lands, grasslands, and mostly rural areas.
7 – Laatste’s Viper
Scientific Name Vipera latastei
Lifespan 8 – 10 Years
Length 50 – 72 cm
Diet Birds, Small Mammals, Small Reptiles, Arthropods
Lataste’s Vipers are venomous snakes in Spain and are endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. They are very rare venomous snakes. The Lataste’s Viper has a triangle-shaped head. They are usually grey and have a dark zig-zag pattern on their body with a yellow tip tail. Lataste’s Viper is rare and lives a solitary and secretive life. They wait for their prey to pass so that it can attack. They lure their prey using their tales. Lataste’s Vipers mating season in early summer, and they are considered oviparous because they give live birth. They are mostly hiding under rocks and small caves.
8 – Viperine Snake
Scientific Name Natrix maura
Lifespan 10 – 12 Years
Length 90 – 120 cm
Diet Fish, Frogs, Lizards, Toads, and Other small aquatic creatures
Viperine water Snakes are nonvenomous semiaquatic snakes in Spain, Morocco, France, Italy, and Algeria. These species have multiple color variants. There are brown, grey, reddish, and black colors with multiple zig patterns. Viperine Snakes are harmless to humans. They do not bite and are not aggressive. However, when they feel threatened, they strike but do not bite. The Viperine Snakes are diurnal and hunt for aquatic animals during the day. Their mating season starts in early March, and female Viperine Snake tends to lay 20 eggs in a litter.
9 – False Smooth Snake
Scientific Name Macroprotodon Brevis
Lifespan 6 – 7 Years
Length 50 – 60 cm
Diet Birds, Lizards, Geckos, Small Mammals, Squirrels, Moles
False Smooth Snakes are Venomous snakes in Spain and are endemic to Mediterranean Basin. They are usually grey or brown with a flat head. They have smooth scales with dark edges. They only bite when they feel threatened, and their bite does not affect human life. Even though the False Smooth Snake is venomous, they are opisthoglyphous, meaning they do not produce venom when they bite. However, they have venom when they swallow their prey. They mostly live in urban areas, vegetated lands, shrublands, forests, and rocky areas. Some False Smooth Snakes have been observed to be nocturnal, and some are honored to be diurnal, depending on the species.
10 – Ladder Snake
Scientific Name Rhinechis Scalaris
Lifespan 15 – 20 Years
Length 100 – 120 cm
Diet Spiders, Mice, Rabbits, Small Mammals, Insects, Shrews
Rhinechis scalaris are nonvenomous snakes in Spain and Southwestern Europe. Their basic colors are brown or yellow, with two dark stripes running from their head to the tail. Juvenile Ladder snakes are brighter in color and have more dark bars than the elders. They are diurnal during winter and nocturnal during summer. These snakes are considered mobile creatures and often travel 100m a day. They mostly live in caves, hollow trees, and under rocks. Ladder snakes are secretive and do not bite until they feel threatened. However, their bite is not harmful to humans.
11 – Horseshoe Whip Snake
Scientific Name Hemorrhoids Hippocrepis
Lifespan 10 – 15 years
Length 120 – 170 cm
Diet Insects, Shrews, Small Mammals, Lizards, Birds, Small Rodents
Horseshoe whips are nonvenomous snakes in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Algeria. It has a big head that is wider than its neck. They have large eyes, with beautiful smooth scales from their neck to their tail. Horseshoe Whips are brown from the upside and brownish yellow from the belly. They do not bite and are secretive snakes. You will rarely see Horseshoe whip snakes in Spain. They mostly live in forests, vegetation lands, shrublands, grassland, and under rocks.
12 – Grass Snake
Scientific Name Natrix Natrix
Lifespan 20 – 25 Years
Length 150 – 180 cm
Diet Frogs, Toads, Fish, Lizards, Ants & their eggs, and Other aquatic animals
Grass Snake is nonvenomous snakes in Spain, Uk, and North America. They are brown or green and have a yellow band beneath their neck. They have many variants of color varying from black to grey. Grass snakes are considered extremely timid and do not bite. Even if a Grass snake bites, it does not affect human life. They are mostly found living in woodlands, lakes, and forests. They are excellent swimmers and also hunt aquatic animals. They are diurnal and most active in summer. However, they hide in caves or underground during winter to stay safe from the cold.
FAQs
Are there any dangerous snakes in Spain?
Yes, Spain is the home to 5 venomous snakes. The Seoane’s Viper, Asp Viper, Lataste’s Viper, Montpellier Snake, and the False Smooth Snake. However, their venom is mild and does not instantly affect human life.
How common are snakes in Spain?
There are 13 species of snakes in Spain. Some are venomous, and some are nonvenomous. All these snakes are secretive and are not seen in the open.
What’s the deadliest animal in Spain?
The deadliest animals in pain do not include snakes. However, the processionary caterpillar is considered one of the most poisonous animals in Spain.
Conclusion
There are 13 species of snakes in Spain, which include the Seoane’s Viper, Aesculapian Snake, Montpellier Snake, Smooth Snake, Asp Viper, Green Whip Snake, Lataste’s Viper, Viperine Snake, False Smooth Snake, Ladder Snake, Horseshoe Whip Snake, and Grass Snake. However, only 5 of these snakes are venomous, but their venom is not strong enough to instantly kill a human. All these snakes have different characteristics, habitats, and diets, which we discussed in this article.
