Psammophiidae
Eastern Montpellier Snake
HarmlessMalpolon insignitus
6 photographs of the Eastern Montpellier Snake. © Karlo Ostojcic.
The Eastern Montpellier Snake (Malpolon insignitus) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Psammophiidae family, recorded in 32 countries.
- Family
- Psammophiidae
About the Eastern Montpellier Snake
The eastern Montpellier snake (Malpolon insignitus) is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake.
Geographic range
M. insignitus ranges from the eastern Adriatic coast in Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania, the southern Balkans in Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Greece, western Asia and Caucasus in Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq and Iran, and along northern Africa in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria.
Description
It usually has 19 dorsal scale rows on its mid-body, but males lack a dark 'saddle'. It often has narrow, pale longitudinal stripes.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Eastern Montpellier Snake
- Is the Eastern Montpellier Snake venomous?
- The Eastern Montpellier Snake (Malpolon insignitus) is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to humans (its venom is weak and its fangs sit at the back of the mouth) but a bite can cause local swelling or irritation, so it should not be handled.
- Is the Eastern Montpellier Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Eastern Montpellier Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Eastern Montpellier Snake dangerous?
- The Eastern Montpellier Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Eastern Montpellier Snake live?
- The Eastern Montpellier Snake has verified records in 32 countries, including Israel, Greece, Croatia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Psammophiidae snakes
Western Montpellier SnakeMalpolon monspessulanus
Moila SnakeMalpolon moilensis
Rhombic SkaapstekerPsammophylax rhombeatus
Stripe-bellied Sand SnakePsammophis subtaeniatus
Karoo Sand SnakePsammophis notostictus
Cross-marked Sand SnakePsammophis crucifer
Forskal Sand SnakePsammophis schokari
Olive Whip SnakePsammophis mossambicus
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Psammophiidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Malpolon
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Malpolon insignitus
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.