Reptiles
Leopard Snake
Zamenis situla
Among the stones of an old Greek terrace wall, a leopard snake slides out at dusk, the red-brown blotches on its back glowing against the pale limestone.
Overview
The leopard snake, Zamenis situla, is a Least Concern constrictor of rocky scrub, olive groves, and woodland edges in southern Italy, the Balkans, and Greece, including Crete. Its leopard-like pattern and secretive habits make it one of the most beautiful and least often seen snakes of southeastern Europe.
A snake that hides in plain sight
The leopard snake’s pattern breaks up its outline against rock and leaf litter, and it spends most of its life out of sight among walls and scrub.
Status
Least Concern, though many populations are small and patchy.
Leopard Snake: common questions
Why is it called the leopard snake?
It is named for the red-brown, black-edged blotches along its pale back, a pattern that resembles a leopard's.
Is the leopard snake venomous?
No, it is a non-venomous constrictor that is generally docile and rarely bites.
What does the leopard snake eat?
It eats small rodents, lizards, and birds, killing them by constriction.
Where is the leopard snake found?
It lives in rocky scrub, olive groves, and woodland edges in southern Italy, the Balkans, and Greece, including Crete.