REPTILES
Viperina Snake
It gets its name for its resemblance to a viper in shape and color. Indeed, its head, triangular in shape and usually with a V-spot, is unusual for a snake. The eyes, orange with a round pupil, are set very far forward. Its body is thick and its tail short; it reaches a meter although its average length is 70 cm. The female is somewhat larger than the male. It has a zigzag colouring, varying from greyish-yellow to greenish-brown. This pattern runs along the back between dark spots with a light centre. Its belly is whitish or reddish, sometimes with yellowish hues. At the beginning of summer, it is placed in holes on the banks of rivers. The eggs hatch in September. From October to April it hibernates in galleries. Of aquatic tastes, it inhabits the banks and banks of ponds and rivers. It feeds on the prey it finds underwater, especially tadpoles, fish and frogs. It is present throughout the Iberian Iberian Peninsula except some coastal areas of Asturias and northern Galicia; it is always near water so it is not possible to find it in dry areas. This snake is not poisonous, although it adopts a defensive posture imitating the attack of the vipers if disturbed, whistling and throwing forward flattening the head, and emits an unpleasant odor or vomit to scare off possible predators. He never bites; he doesn’t even open his mouth to attack. Although not particularly threatened, its survival depends on the quality of aquatic ecosystems.