Coin-Marked Snake
Hemorrhois nummifer
A slender, fast-moving colubrid of the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, named for the rounded, coin-like dark blotches along its back.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 0.8-1.3 m (2.6-4.3 ft)
- Range
- Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East
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Overview
The coin-marked snake is a slender, agile colubrid distributed across the eastern Mediterranean, Anatolia, and the Levant. Its common name refers to the rounded, coin-shaped dark spots that pattern its back. It is entirely non-venomous and harmless to humans.
It belongs to the whip snake group and is well adapted to dry, rocky Mediterranean terrain.
How to identify it
- Slender body with a long tail
- Pale tan, gray, or reddish-brown ground color patterned with rounded, dark, coin-like blotches along the back
- Belly pale, often unmarked or lightly spotted
- Smooth scales
- Head narrow, barely distinct from the neck, with large eyes and round pupils
Habitat & range
Found in dry, rocky terrain, scrubland, and stony hillsides, often near stone walls or ruins. Range extends across Turkey, the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan), and into parts of Iraq and Iran, from lowlands to moderate elevations.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Diurnal and fast-moving, capable of swift escape when disturbed. May hiss and strike defensively if cornered but is not dangerous. Feeds on lizards, small mammals, and birds, actively pursued and subdued without constriction. Oviparous, laying clutches of several eggs in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the coin-marked snake venomous?
No, it is non-venomous and not dangerous to humans.
Why is it called the coin-marked snake?
It bears rounded, coin-like dark blotches along its back.
Where is the coin-marked snake found?
It occurs across Turkey, the Levant, and parts of Iraq and Iran.
What does the coin-marked snake eat?
It preys on lizards, small mammals, and birds.
Coin-Marked Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Coin-Marked Snake.
