Indigenous Hungarian Species:

Grass , Dice snake, Aesculapian snake, Caspian/Large whip snake, Smooth snake, Adder, Orsini’s viper/Hungarian meadow viper

Grass snake - Natrix natrix

HU: Vízisikló, DE: Ringelnatter, FR: Couleuvre à collier

Reptilia (class) - (order) - Serpentes (suborder) - Colubridae (family) - Natrix (genus) - natrix (species)

DISTRIBUTION All , except sodic, dry environment HABITAT near lakes and rivers, in woods, on meadows BODY 110 cm in length; round pupil, slim body; light-coloured or white abdomen side SPECIAL identical yellowish spot on each side of the head FOOD small fish, frogs, small rodents POISON none BEHAVIOUS If bothered, plays dead and projects a foul stench. Never attacks. PROTECTION protected but not endangered

Dice snake - Natrix tesselata

HU: Kockás sikló, DE: Würfelnatter, FR: Couleuvre tesselée

Reptilia (class) - Squamata (order) - Serpentes (suborder) - Colubridae (family) - Natrix (genus) - tesselata (species)

DISTRIBUTION All Hungary, though the population suffered great losses in the past decades HABITAT close to water, in reedy areas. The building of fishing sites around lakes and the regulation of rivers destroy its habitat. BODY about 90 cm in length; round pupil; slim body; base colour brownish or greenish, dotted with square shaped spots; abdominal side: beige or orange, with black pattern which makes it looks checked FOOD small fish, juvenile fish, tadpoles, newts, frogs POISON none BEHAVIOUR Never bites, instead smears its attacker with foul secretion and plays dead PROTECTION Protected and close to be endangered

Aesculapian snake - Zamenis longissimus vagy Elaphe longissima

HU: Erdei sikló, DE: Äskulapnatter, FR: Couleuvre d'Esculape

Reptilia (class) - Squamata (order) - Serpentes (suborder) - Colubridae (family) - Zamenis (genus) - longissima (species)

DISTRIBUTION All Europe, Romans carried it around everywhere in jugs as it was the saint of Aesculapius, the god of healing HABITAT rocky slopes; bushy areas; mountains of medium height BODY max 190 cm in length; round pupil; slim, muscled body; smooth scales, base colour: olive green, brown or yellowish brown; abdominal side: margarine yellow or light green. Side: lined by brownish spots, behind its head yellowish spots at both side – typical at grass snake FOOD mice, rats, small birds POISON none BEHAVIOUR Plays dead if disturbed; never attacks. Sometimes finds shelter in sheds or attics of side building for winter’s rest. PROTECTION Protected

Caspian/Large whip snake - Coluber caspius or Dolichophis caspius

HU: Haragos sikló, DE: Kaspische Zornnatter/Pfeilnatter, FR: Couleuvre de la Caspienne

Reptilia (class) - Squamata (order) - Serpentes (suborder) - Colubridae (family) - Dolichophis (genus) - caspius (species)

DISTRIBUTION South-Transdanubia, area of Szársomlyó, mountains around Buda HABITAT rocky, hillsides with poor vegetation BODY 160-200 cm in length (Europe’s longest snake); greyish brown or nut brown body, with a cream-coloured dot on each scale; abdominal side: brimstone yellow SPECIAL yellowish map-like pattern on the head; black tongue FOOD small birds, rodents, , small snakes POISON none BEHAVIOUR excellent climber, very flexible; distrustful and brave. Loudly hisses if disturbed and bites if one tries to catch it PROTECTION Protected

Smooth snake - Coronella austriaca

HU: Rézsikló, DE: Schlingnatter/Glattnatter, FR: Coronelle lisse

Reptilia (class) - Squamata (order) - Serpentes (suborder) - Colubridae (family) - Coronella (genus) - austriaca (species)

DISTRIBUTION Dunántúli középhegység (Transdanubian mountains) HABITAT rocky slopes of mountains, stony forest clearings, abandoned quarries, pine woods, dumping ground BODY 65-72 cm in length; round pupil; slim body; base colour: reddish brown (male), greyish brown (female), with dark spots; abdominal side: lilac-iron grey or reddish brown. On the top of the head a pattern similar to the Austrian two-headed eagle (thus its Latin name); because of its pattern sometimes mistaken with adders SPECIAL identical yellowish-light spot on each side of the neck FOOD Common wall , Sand lizard, juvenile Eastern green lizard, frogs, juvenile snakes, small rodents POISON none BEHAVIOUR voracious, tries to catch bigger prey than itself. Fiercely defends itself it if disturbed, bites several times, but never attacks when not pestered. PROTECTION Protected

Adder -

HU: Keresztes vipera, DE: Kreuzotter, FR: Vipère Péliade

Reptilia (class) - Squamata (order) - Serpentes (suborder) - (family) - Vipera (genus) - berus (species)

DISTRIBUTION one of the most widespread venomous snake of the world, from the British Islands to Japan, its populations decreasing HABITAT varied: grassland, bushy meadows, birch forests, mountain pasture, pinewoods, dank deciduous forests, moorland, abandoned fruit gardens, railway embankments, cemetery, ruins, dumping ground BODY 80 cm in length, sturdy, vertical pupils; greyish (male), cinnamon brown (female), sometimes darker abdominal scales, zigzagging line runs along the spine, identical X or Y shaped pattern on head FOOD frogs, lizards, small rodents, sometimes baby birds VENOM Hemotoxic, damages blood cells. Less than 5 justified bites in 150 years (the rest is hoax). BEWARE!!! POLIVALENS SERUM MAY CAUSE SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION! SERUM CAN BE APPLIED ONLY AT INTENSIVE CARE, AND ONLY AS LAST RESORT!!! BEHAVIOUR tries to escape when disturbed; not too fast and not bellicose; sometimes basking in groups, hibernating together in a safe and dry winter’s rest place; territorial, nocturnal PROTECTION Protected, isolated populations, degrading habitats

Orsini’s viper/Hungarian meadow viper - rakosiensis

HU: Rákosi vipera

Reptilia (class) - Squamata (order) - Serpentes (suborder) - Viperidae (family) - Vipera (genus) - ursinii (species) - rakosiensis (subspecies)

DISTRIBUTION Duna-Tisza köze (Danube-Tisza Interfluve), Hanság HABITAT grassland, moorland meadows BODY 45-55 cm in length, short and sturdy, vertical pupil, typically ‘viper- shaped’ head, grey base colour, zigzagging pattern on back FOOD grasshoppers, crickets, lizards, small rodent VENOM Neurotoxic. Its venom is about as dangerous as the venom of a bee. BEHAVIOUR Extremely timid, likely to escape when disturbed. Attack unknown. PROTECTION Protected, critically endangered. Active and successful conservation and rehabilitation program. Very rare.

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