Aesculapian Rat Snake - Five Sisters Zoo

One of the largest European snakes. Adults are olive-brown or grey in colour.

Facts

 

  • Diet: Carnivore
  • Weight: 900 g
  • Length: 0.9 to 2 metres
  • Habitat: Forest, grassland and rocky areas. Native to central and eastern Europe, they have been introduced to the UK, and now there are isolated populations in Wales and England.
  • Lifespan: 25 to 30 years

Adapted to Survive

Individuals are great climbers and are often found in trees and bushes.

During winter, individuals go into a deep sleep called brumation (a type of dormancy in reptiles not as deep as hibernation); this adaptation allows them to endure the cold season.

Individuals can raise their body off the ground if threatened.

Threats

  • Pet trade
  • Habitat Fragmentation

IUCN conservation status

Least Concern

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