Ladder snake

Ladder Snake ( Rhinechis scalaris ), Portugal

The ladder snake ( Elaphe scalaris or Rhinechis scalaris ) is a species of snakes, which is native to the Iberian Peninsula and southern France. It reaches a body length of 1.0 to 1.60 meters and is easily distinguished from other species due to their dark back stripes. The name derives from the drawing pattern of the young animals, which appear like steps.

Features

With an average length of about 1.20 meters, the ladder snake is relatively large, it also has a strong physique with a slightly offset from the body head. The maximum length is about 1.60 meters; the snakes in Menorca, however, are smaller and remain normally less than one meter in total length. The head is slightly triangular with pointed snout, the pupils are round. Before the eyes are seven to nine large scales, the upper lip Signs ( supralabials ), the fourth and the fifth strike the eyes. There is also a Voraugenschild ( Praeoculare ). Upper hand, the animals are yellowish - brown, more rarely, they can also be dark or reddish brown. Striking is the back drawing that exists in the adult animals of two strong dark brown longitudinal stripes from the neck to the tail end with them. There are several horizontal stripes, which are very pronounced especially in the young and the eponymous stairs or ladder pattern ( in English-speaking therefore as a "ladder snake", " snake head " ) are known to form between these strips. These spots are H- shaped, and the transom fade with increasing age and number of molts. Overall, the back surface of an average of 27 scale rows, rarely 25 or 29 formed, the scales are ungekielt. The underside of the snake is bright yellowish to whitish. The juveniles have on the ventral side, a dark mottling, which also fades over development.

Distribution and habitat

The ladder snake lives with the exception of the north on the Iberian Peninsula, ie both in Spain and in Portugal, and in the extreme south of France. It is also to be found on the Mediterranean island of Menorca.

Your altitudinal distribution ranges from sea level to about 2,200 meters, they preferred it warm and dry gravel plains with high vegetation density. In the more humid mountainous areas in Portugal you can find them, however, only up to a maximum of 900 meters above sea level, thus only to the submontane region. It is for example very common to find in overgrown vines, also in cork oak stands, in hedges and ruins as well as in fallow farmland and dry pine stands. Overall, the snake is by the choice of habitat, however, little specialized, and is similar in the Montpellier snake ( Malpolon monspessulanus ), but she avoids cool and above all, rainy areas. Also in the vicinity of dwellings, the snake can be found and it does not penetrate rare in an inhabited building.

Way of life

The ladder snake is diurnal and crepuscular. The activity maxima are daytime regional variations in spring and early summer from April to May and June into it. From May / June they shifted their activity into the morning and dusk and sometimes even in the wee hours of the night. During these times it hunts mainly by small mammals up to the size of small rabbits, and birds that they take with their mouths and then strangled with her body. It is relatively aggressive and attack potential enemies with fierce bite, while nonetheless possesses no snake venom. Especially the young animals hiss as a warning of the attack. It is primarily ground alive, but can also climb on plants or masonry. In strong sunlight and strong wind, the animals seek shelter under stone slabs.

They spend nights animals in burrows in the ground, very often in abandoned buildings of small mammals. To November, the snakes retreat From about October and hold a winter rest, which lasts about four to five months.

Reproduction and Development

The mating season of the ladder snake occurs after hibernation in April-May, with the pairings take place normally at night. The females lay after the next molt clutches 5-25 eggs in the soil, which are left to themselves. The young snakes hatch after two to three months and have at the moment a total length of about 10 to 25 centimeters. They feed mainly on insects such as grasshoppers and small lizards.

System

The ladder snake was until recently in genus Elaphe, but this was revised. Today, it is accordingly the only type of the newly created genus Rhinechis; they do themselves is monotypic, so there are no known subspecies.

Threats and conservation

A particular danger of this kind is not, because it is not hunted as non-poisonous snake excessively and has no special binding to specific habitats. It belongs to the species that very often fall victim to the road. Regional can threaten its survival large-scale cultural changes and cultivations. As a European style, the ladder snake in Appendix 1, column 2 of the Federal listed species protection regulation and therefore is under special protection of species. The animals is therefore notifiable in the conservation authorities.