List of snakes found in Albania

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
European horned viper

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.

Species of snakes found in Albania.
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

  1. Snakes in Albania - AlbINFO by albanien.ch. In: AlbINFO. Retrieved on July 25, 2020 (German).
  2. 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.
  3. European horned viper (sand otter) | Animals | Venomous snakes | Goruma. Retrieved July 25, 2020 .