Details
Zamenis longissimus
Aesculapian snake is a large non-venomous European snake associated with the ancient medical symbol of Asclepius. Management of old walls and woodland edges affects shelter for local populations.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It inhabits deciduous woodland, edges, stone walls, orchards, and old buildings in Europe. Main habitat types in this guide are forest, grassland, urban.
Typical total length 110-200 cm, weight 300 g-800 g. A long smooth body, brown to olive upperparts, and pale underside are typical.
It is diurnal and usually solitary. It climbs trees and walls well and searches by day for rodents and nests.
It is carnivorous. Rodents, small birds, eggs, and lizards are constricted and eaten.
Females lay eggs in warm compost, rotting vegetation, or decaying wood.
Although still widespread in places, it remains sensitive to habitat change. Management of old walls and woodland edges affects shelter for local populations.
