Description
English: Detail of a Smooth Snake, Coronella austriaca. This is a young specimen (probably second life year) with an estimated length of 25 cm and a body diameter of about 10-12 mm.
Deutsch: Detailausschnitt einer Schlingnatter (Coronella austriaca), hier ein halbwüchsiges, wahrscheinlich im zweiten Lebensjahr befindliches Tier mit einer geschätzten Körperlänge von 25 cm bei einem Durchmesser von vielleicht 10-12 mm. Es lag am Abend wärmetankend auf einem Sandweg in einem Heidegebiet.
Date 30 August 2008
Source Own work. Location: North-eastern Lower Saxony, Germany.
Author Christian Fischer https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fice
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CoronellaAustriaca2.jpg

Coronella austriaca (commonly known as a smooth snake) is a non-venomous colubrid species found in northern and central Europe, but also as far east as northern Iran.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. Smooth snakes are ovoviviparous. The juveniles hatch out of eggs internally and are born live. Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae.