Eastern Montpellier Snake
Malpolon insignitus
A large, fast-moving snake known for raising its head cobra-like when threatened, found across the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.
- Adult length
- 1.2-2.0 m (4-6.6 ft)
- Range
- The Balkans, Turkey, the Caucasus, and the Middle East
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Overview
The Eastern Montpellier snake is a large colubrid closely related to the western Montpellier snake, and until relatively recently the two were considered a single species. It is one of the biggest snakes in its range and is well known for its dramatic threat display.
How to identify it
- Large, robust body with a long, tapering tail
- Ground color olive, gray, or brownish, often with faint darker speckling
- Distinctive large, protruding eyes with round pupils and pronounced brow ridges giving a somewhat fierce expression
- When threatened, it flattens its neck and raises the front of its body in a cobra-like display
- Adults can exceed 1.5 m and occasionally approach 2 m
Habitat & range
Found in open scrubland, rocky hillsides, grassland, and agricultural edges from the Balkans through Turkey, the Caucasus, and into the Levant and parts of the Middle East, generally at low to moderate elevations.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Diurnal and highly alert, relying on speed and its dramatic hooding display to deter predators and threats. It is an active hunter of lizards, small mammals, and other snakes. Reproduction is oviparous, with females laying moderate clutches of eggs in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the Eastern Montpellier snake raise its head like a cobra?
It flattens its neck and raises its forebody as a bluff to appear more imposing, earning it the nickname 'false cobra.'
How big does the Eastern Montpellier snake get?
It is a large colubrid, with adults commonly reaching 1.2-2.0 m (4-6.6 ft).
Where is the Eastern Montpellier snake found?
It ranges across the Balkans, Turkey, the Caucasus, and the Middle East in open, scrubby habitats.
Eastern Montpellier Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Eastern Montpellier Snake.
