Southern Smooth Snake
Coronella girondica
A small, secretive colubrid of southwestern Europe and North Africa, closely resembling the smooth snake but with a more southerly range.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 0.5-0.75 m (1.6-2.5 ft)
- Range
- Southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa
Found a snake like this?
Identify any snake from a photo, free.
Overview
The southern smooth snake is a small, non-venomous colubrid found across the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, Italy, and northwestern Africa. It closely resembles its northern relative, the smooth snake, but has a distinct pattern and more southerly distribution.
It is a harmless constrictor that subdues small reptile prey by gripping and constriction, and it poses no danger to humans.
How to identify it
- Small, slender body with smooth, glossy scales
- Pale grayish, tan, or reddish-brown dorsal color with a series of dark brown or blackish squarish blotches along the back
- Dark stripe often runs from the nostril through the eye toward the neck
- Head slightly flattened and only weakly distinct from the neck
- Round pupils
Habitat & range
Inhabits dry, rocky, and scrubby habitats including stone walls, hillsides, open woodland, and Mediterranean maquis. Range includes Spain, Portugal, southern France, Italy, and parts of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, generally at low to moderate elevations.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, sheltering by day under rocks or debris. Feeds mainly on lizards, especially skinks and geckos, seized and subdued by constriction. Generally docile, rarely biting even when handled. Oviparous, laying small clutches of a few eggs in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the southern smooth snake venomous?
No, it is non-venomous and harmless to humans, subduing small prey by constriction rather than venom.
How does the southern smooth snake differ from the smooth snake?
It has a more southerly range and a pattern of squarish dark blotches, compared to the smooth snake's more uniform or lightly spotted appearance.
Where is the southern smooth snake found?
It occurs in the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, Italy, and parts of northwestern Africa.
What does the southern smooth snake eat?
It feeds mainly on lizards, particularly skinks and geckos.
Southern Smooth Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Southern Smooth Snake.
