Smooth snake
species of reptile
The smooth snake (Coronella austriaca).[3] is found in Britain, where it lives only in southern heathlands.
| Smooth snake | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Coronella |
| Species: | C. austriaca
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| Binomial name | |
| Coronella austriaca | |
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| Range of C. austriaca | |
It is a non-venomous colubrid species found in northern and central Europe, and as far east as northern Iran. In contrast to many other snakes, their scales are flat (not keeled). This gives the snake a smooth texture to the touch, from which it gets its common name.
The smooth snake feeds on smaller animals, especially other reptiles. It subdues larger prey by constriction, although unlike true constrictors it does not actually kill by this method.[4] It reproduces by laying eggs, which are buried in sand in a warm place.
References
change- ↑ Crnobrnja-Isailović J et al. (2017). "Coronella austriaca ". The IUCN Red list of Threatened Species 2017. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/157284/748852
- ↑ Species Coronella austriaca at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
- ↑ Street D. 1979. The reptiles of northern and central Europe. London: B.T. Batsford. 268 pp. ISBN 0-7134-1374-3.
- ↑ "Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group smooth snake page". Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2015-03-10.