European Grass Snake Profile
In Britain there are so few snake species that each one of them is inherently special: The infamous adder, the cold archipelago’s closest thing to a rattlesnake, hits with all the power and fury of a paper cut.
And the stunning and exceptionally rare smooth snake has an almost imperceptible presence in the Southern counties.
But the European grass snake once thought to span most of the UK, turned out to be entirely absent from the country and instead, a doppelganger sits in its place.
In a reflection of recent political blunders, some of the best attributes of Great Britain turned out to be European after all.
European Grass Snake Facts Overview
| Habitat: | Wild areas such as heathland or woods, near water |
| Location: | Most of Eurasia East of France, the Middle East and Northwestern Africa |
| Lifespan: | 20 years in captivity |
| Size: | Over 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long |
| Weight: | Up to around 250 g (9 oz) |
| Colour: | Dark green or brown with a yellow collar behind the head |
| Diet: | Mostly amphibians, some invertebrates, small mammals, fish, birds |
| Predators: | Birds, foxes, cats |
| Top Speed: | Slithery quick |
| No. of Species: | 1 |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |
European grass snakes are non-venomous colubrid snakes, with fangs at the back of their mouths, used for holding onto the faces of frogs, among other things.
Those other things give it a versatile diet, and this all contributes to its success as a species in most European countries.
But contrary to the name, this is more of a water snake, and is extremely comfortable, if even reliant on clean water for its vibe. And with the state of European waters changing, that reliance comes at a potential cost to the snake.
Interesting European Grass Snake Facts
1. They’re Colubrids
There are three major groups of dangerous snakes. You’ve got Elapids, which contain the mambas and the cobras, the Vipers, with the adders and rattlesnakes, and the Colubrids, which have some interesting examples like the boomslang and keelbacks.
Grass snakes are from the latter group, the Colubrids, and while the keelbacks are often lethally venomous (and, incidentally, poisonous – some are even poisonous and not venomous!), the vast majority in this family are entirely harmless, and this includes the grass snake.
Like all Colubrids, grass snakes are rear-fanged, which means they have their largest teeth at the back of their mouths, and instead of being hollow tubes like the front fangs of a viper, they’re essentially grooved blades that slice into their prey as they chew on it.
This is how venomous Colubrids secrete their toxins into the tissues of their victims, and is a primitive form of envenomation that more modern families improved upon with the hypodermic needle approach, and for the grass snake, it’s how it grips and chews its large, toady prey items and swallows them while they’re still alive, rather than using constriction.
2. They’re generalists
These special teeth are used to great effect across a wide range of food items for the grass snake. Having a diverse menu allows the animals to have an equally diverse range of habitats, and this explains the species’ success in almost all countries of Europe.
One study assessed the diet in the UK of its close relative (before the two were recognised as distinct) the barred grass snake as 63% amphibians, 25% mammals, 10% fish, and the occasional bird.
This overall ratio varied between regions, and this is reflected in the data for Natrix natrix in mainland Europe, too. The common frog, Rana temporaria, was the item of choice in a Czech study, but one notable example was the toxic fire salamander, suggesting the snake is tolerant of its poison.
Despite a clear preference for frogs, this ability to adapt to different food sources is a main component in its success across Europe. 1 2
3. They’re widespread
This species was once thought to be the same as the one found in the UK, but it’s recently been confirmed that the barred grass snake is not a subspecies of the European grass snake, but a closely related species of its own, Natrix helvetica.
Between the two, these are the most common snakes in Europe, the barred grass snake being dominant in the UK and Central Europe, and the European grass snake being the most common species in almost every country East of the Netherlands.
There do appear to be hybrids forming in the UK, between the native N. natrix and the introduced N. helvetica.
But the squamate equivalent of Brexit has barely left a dent in this species’ distribution, and the European grass snake is still found all over Central and Eastern Europe, well into Asia, all the way to China. It’s also found in the Middle East and North Africa.
Across its range, it’s versatile with its habitat choices, its only major preference being the presence of water. 3
4. They’re semi-aquatic
Grass snakes are very good at swimming, and in many languages, they’re more commonly known as water snakes.
They are common around lakes throughout the continent, where they hunt for food. Amphibians make up most of their diet, and this ties them intrinsically to waterways, marshes and streams.
While aquatic life is their strength, though, it’s also their vulnerability.
5. Water pollution is a problem
The overall population is, as you’d expect from such an epic snake, of Least Concern to conservationists like the IUCN.
However, local populations are threatened in many places by the pollution of water, which doesn’t necessarily affect the snake directly but is a widespread and pressing issue for amphibian species.
Habitat destruction is a more direct threat, as waterways get shored up, marshes get drained, and mining activities plain dig up vast swathes of viable habitat for the grass snake.
For example, in Switzerland, 90% of wetlands have been drained, leading the populations to be declared endangered. In 2015, the grass snake was named Animal of the Year in the country as a way of drawing attention to the need for ponds and watery habitats for it.
But again, the adaptability and widespread nature of the species mean it’s still doing well overall and is mostly protected across its range. 4
6. They’ll spray you with anal secretions
These cool snakes are one of the safer animals to catch (though this might be illegal), but that practice will come at a cost.
While non-venomous, they are capable of defending themselves using goo that sprays out of their anal glands and onto your hands.
This goo, of course, smells and isn’t easy to wash off with just water, so you may embarrass yourself on the bus on the way home if you get covered in it.
Still, they relax very quickly when they realise you’re not going to eat them and the experience of catching and playing with these docile animals is worth the stink for at least the first four times.
Other defensive attempts include dropping dead (they’re faking it) and flattening their necks like a cobra, which is also a bold little bluff.
European Grass Snake Fact-File Summary
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Natrix |
| Species: | natrix |
Fact Sources & References
- Edita Maxinová (2018), “Natrix natrix (European grass snake). Diet”, Research Gate.
- Patrick T. Gregory (2004), “Food Habits of the Grass Snake in Southeastern England: Is Natrix natrix a Generalist Predator?”, Bio One Digital Library.
- Carolin Kindler (2017), “Hybridization patterns in two contact zones of grass snakes reveal a new Central European snake species”, scientific reports.
- “Grass Snake”, IUCN Red List.