Grass snake

Grass snake 

©David Guimarães

Description: Relatively big snake that usually measures about 100 to 120 cm in length. The head is large, very different from the body, and the muzzle is round. The robust body is dorsally covered by carinal scales, distributed in 19 rows in the middle of the body. The color on the bottom of the back is gray, brown or olive green, and can present dark spots irregularly arranged. The color of the ventral region is white or gray, with dark square spots.

Habitat: It appears, in most cases, next to water courses, lagoons or puddles, preferentially in woods, agricultural zones and shrublands.

Where to find in the Arouca Geopark: Bustelo (Moldes), Covelo de Paivô (Paivô River), Freita Mountain’s plateau, Pena Amarela Stream (Bouceguedim, Ponte de Telhe), Rio de Frades.