Distribution in Greece: Mainland, Peloponnese, Evia, Crete, Lesvos, Corfu, Lefkada, Serifos, Tinos, Kithira.
General Information: Non-Venomous. In Greece only a single subspecies occurs: Natrix tessellata tessellata. Overall length is usually up to 80cm, but rarely up to 130cm. Females are larger than males. It lives only in wetlands and rivers, spending most of the day in the water, hunting. Occurs up to altitudes of 2200m, but usually lower than 1000m. It is mostly diurnal, although it is sometimes active at night during the summer. Quite variable in colours and patternings. Swims very skillfully and fast. It feeds exclusively on fish and amphibians. Mates in the spring and in the summer females lay 5-25 eggs.If caught and feels threatened, it secretes a very smelly liquid and hisses. Often pretends to be dead by turning upside down, with an open mouth and a protruding tongue. Extremely rarely bites if handled. A completely harmless snake.
