List of snakes found in Albania
This is the list of species of snakes , which in Albania occur . 16 species of snakes are known from Albania. This makes the country, along with Greece, one of the most biodiverse in Europe. With the European horned viper, which can be found in almost all of Albania, Europe's most poisonous snake species occurs here, whose bite can be fatal for humans.
Snake species | Occurrence | Toxic | risk | comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
European horned viper ( Vipera ammodytes ) | Frequent in Albania, from the seashore to the mountains (up to 1800 m above sea level) | Yes | Fatal | Most poisonous snake in Europe |
Balkan angry snake ( Coluber gemonensis ) | all of Albania, preferably in the plain and in the hilly country, up to 1100 m above sea level | No | No danger | |
Grass snake ( Natrix natrix ) | all over Albania, often up to the mountains | Yes | medium | |
Dice snake ( Natrix tesselata ) | all over Albania, in fresh and brackish water habitats | No | No danger | |
Slender snake ( Coluber najadum ) | West & Southwest Albania | Yes | Medium high | |
Eastern lizard snake ( Malpolon insignitus ) | frequent in the coastal area, in the river valleys up to the mountains | Yes | medium | |
Balkan jumping snake ( Coluber caspius ) | All of Albania, except in the north, up to 1500 m above sea level | Yes | Medium high | |
Leopard snake ( Elaphe situla ) | in the west, rarely. | No | No danger | |
Aesculapian snake ( Elaphe longissima ) | Very common all over Albania, from the coast to the mountains | No | No danger | |
Four-striped snake ( Elaphe quatuorlineata ) | preferred in the west, rarely in the mountains. | No | No danger | Biggest snake in Europe |
Adder ( Vipera berus ) | only in the mountains, North Albanian Alps | Yes | Medium-very high | |
Meadow viper ( Vipera ursinii ) | only in the mountains (North Albanian Alps and Korab Mountains ) | Yes | Medium high | |
Smooth snake ( Coronella austriaca ) | rarely in Albania, only in the mountains. Albanian Alps & Korab Mountains | No | No danger | |
European cat snake ( Telescopus fallax ) | Western Albania, up to the hill country | Yes | Medium high | |
Western sand boa ( Eryx jaculus turcicus ) | very rare, only in the south near Saranda (Ksamil peninsula) | No | No danger | |
Blöd eye ( typhlos vermicularis ) | widespread in the hill country and the plains | No | No danger |
Individual evidence
- ↑ Snakes in Albania - AlbINFO by albanien.ch. In: AlbINFO. Retrieved on July 25, 2020 (German).
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Idriz Haxhiu (1989): The Reptilia of Albania: Species composition, Distribution, Habitats. Bonn Zoological Contributions 48 (1): 35–57.
- ↑ European horned viper (sand otter) | Animals | Venomous snakes | Goruma. Retrieved July 25, 2020 .