Natrix

Grass snake

Natrix is the scientific genus name of the European Water snakes or swimming snakes. This class consists of three to four kinds. The most prominent representative in Central Europe is the grass snake. The medium to large snakes of this genus slender, agile animals are living semi -aquatic.

The genus concept applies in contrast to the higher-level taxa in science as accepted and stable. The pre-1960 classified into the genus snakes from Asia, America and Africa have been moved to their own species.

Features

The snakes of the genus Natrix are long between one to two meters. The pupils are typical of vipers, round. The scales on the upper side of the body are distinctly keeled. At the center of the body they have 19 to 21 dorsal scale rows ( dorsalia ). The shed behind the eye ( Postokulare ) follows exactly one temporal. The ventral scales are ungekielt. The Analschuppe is divided.

Dissemination

They are found only in the Palaearctic, the distribution of the genus extends from Morocco and Iran to the south to Mongolia in the east over Finland and Great Britain in the North, where the grass snake has the largest area of ​​distribution.

Way of life

Their diet consists of rodents, anurans and fish. The man they can not be dangerous.

Inside systematics

The genus Natrix include:

• The grass snake (Natrix natrix ),
• The viper snake ( N. maura )
• The dice snake ( N. tesselata )
• The large head - grass snake ( N. megalocephala ) ( species status disputed).

Outer systematics

The genus Natrix belongs to the subfamily of the water snakes Natricinae. This is the genus in a subfamily, are listed in the snakes from around the world. For example, originating from North and Central America garter snakes belong to the Natricinae, as well as African and Asian snakes swimming. The family of snakes ( Colubridae ) in which the water snakes belong is considered paraphyletic group, meaning that not all of the snakes, the snakes are listed below, must be related to each other. The systematics of these higher Schlangentaxa is still the subject of scientific debate.