Aesculapian Snake
Aesculapian snake is a non-venomous snake found extensively in Europe. A member of the Colubridae family, it is one of the largest snakes in Europe. Males are larger than females.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Squamata |
| Suborder | Serpentes |
| Family | Colubridae |
| Subfamily | Colubrinae |
| Genus | Zamenis |
| Scientific Name | Zamenis longissimus |
| Length | 110 – 160 cm (average) Largest specimen: 225cm |
| Color | Adults are olive-yellow to brownish-green or black, often there are white-edged dorsal scales visible as white spots all over the body; sometimes when the color is pale, two dark lines running longitudinally are visible along the flanks; belly is yellow to off-white while the iris is amber to ochre |
| Distribution | Most of France (excluding the north), eastern part of Spain’s northern coast, Italy (excluding the south and Sicily), Greece, Asia minor, Switzerland, Austria, South Moravia, Hungary, Czech Republic, south Poland, Romania, Slovakia, south-west Ukraine, western Germany; Russian, Georgian and Turkish eastern and northeastern shores of the Black Sea, northern Iran |
| Habitat | Hilly or rocky habitats, river valleys and riverbeds, forest steppes, forest clearings in succession, shrublands at the edges of forests, forest/field ecotones, woods interspersed with meadows, old walls and stonewalls, gardens and sheds, disused and neglected buildings, ruins |
| Diet | Rodents, shrews, moles, birds, bird eggs |
| Hibernation Period | Hibernates during winter months |
| Predators | Badgers and other mustelids, wild boar, foxes, hedgehogs, various birds of prey; juveniles can fall prey to rats, cats, dogs, chickens |
| Venom Fact | Non-venomous |
| Breeding Season | Middle of May to mid-June |
| Mode of Reproduction | Oviparous (egg laying) |
| Clutch Size | 5 – 11(average) |
| Incubation Period | Around 8 weeks |
| Reproductive Age | 4 – 6 years of age |
| Average Lifespan | 25 to 30 years |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Aesculapian Snake Pictures Gallery
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- Photos of Aesculapian Snake
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- Pictures of Aesculapian Snake
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- Aesculapian Snakes
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- Zamenis longissimus
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Published on September 13th 2016 by staff under Snakes. Article was last reviewed on 21st August 2018.
