Viperine Snake

Fascinating facts about the Viperine Snake

• A 33-inch adult can reach 85 cm total length, with a 7-inch tail.
• Fossils unearthed at El Chaparral date this species to the latter part of the Early Pleistocene.
• On the Balearic island of Mallorca, the snake’s numbers are bolstered by an abundant prey frog, Pelophylax perezi, creating a trophic subsidy that lets the invader outcompete native amphibians. This chain reaction has forced the endemic Majorcan midwife toad into steep refuges, illustrating how a single prey species can tip the balance of an entire ecosystem.
• Despite its viper-like zigzag pattern, the snake’s bite delivers only mild venom that must be chewed into prey, and it rarely bites in defense. This shows that visual mimicry can work without the need for a dangerous bite, reminding us that appearance alone can be enough to deter predators.

At a glance

About the Viperine Snake

The viperine snake (Natrix maura) glides through the waterways of southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa with a striking dorsal mosaic: a grey, brown or reddish base interrupted by a black zigzag stripe and rows of black ocelli edged in yellow. Its head, broader than that of its congeners, sits atop strongly keeled scales arranged in 21 rows, and its ventral side can range from bright yellow or red, checkered with black, to an unbroken black canvas. Adults can stretch to 85 cm, with a tail that adds another 17 cm, giving the creature a sleek, elongated silhouette that belies its modest size. A true water hunter, this diurnal natricine spends most of its day submerged, snapping up fish, frogs and other aquatic prey. Though it mimics the adder’s appearance and even strikes in a similar fashion, it rarely bites and its mild venom, delivered via chewing from Duvernoy’s glands, serves only to aid swallowing. Its adaptability shines across forests, shrublands, inland wetlands, marine fringes and even human-altered landscapes, but perhaps the most surprising trait is its invasive success on Mallorca, where it has reshaped local amphibian communities by preying on Pelophylax perezi and forcing the Majorcan midwife toad into inaccessible cliffs.

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