# barred grass snake (*Natrix helvetica*) The barred grass snake is a friendly snake that loves to swim and bask in the sun. It has beautiful stripes and is often found near water, making it a fun creature to spot in nature! - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![barred grass snake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Grass_Snake_%28Natrix_natrix_helvetica%29_playing_dead_%2814178349634%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grass_Snake_%28Natrix_natrix_helvetica%29_playing_dead_%2814178349634%29.jpg) ## Appearance The barred grass snake has a grey-brown to olive-green body with distinct dark bars or spots along its sides. Its most striking feature is a bright yellow and black collar just behind its head, making it unique. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Natrix ## Interesting facts - Even though they have 'grass' in their name, they are excellent swimmers and often hunt underwater. - They love composting! Females often lay their eggs inside warm, rotting heaps of leaves and plant material. - When threatened, this snake might hiss very loudly and even pretend to strike, but it rarely bites! - Young barred grass snakes start life eating tiny slugs and worms before growing big enough for frogs! ## Special abilities - **Play Dead Performer:** barred grass snake can act completely dead, even lying upside down, to trick predators into thinking it's not worth eating. - **Stinky Spray Shield:** barred grass snake has glands that release a foul-smelling liquid when scared, making predators quickly lose their appetite. - **Water Wonder:** barred grass snake can swim very well and quickly catch fish underwater, thanks to its streamlined body. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 70-140 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-1 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 2 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 10-40 - **Incubation:** 42-70 days ## Diet & Feeding They love feasting on amphibians like frogs and newts, plus fish, which they cleverly hunt in water. - **Age differences:** Young snakes start with smaller prey like tadpoles, slugs, and worms, gradually moving to larger amphibians and fish as they grow. - **Primary Foods:** Frogs, Toads, Newts, Fish, Tadpoles - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Common Frog (*Rana temporaria*) — A favorite meal for both young and adult snakes. - **Eats:** Common Toad (*Bufo bufo*) — Often eaten by larger barred grass snakes. - **Eats:** [European Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-perch) (*Perca fluviatilis*) — Skilled underwater hunters catch this fish. - **Eaten by:** [Common Buzzard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-buzzard) (*Buteo buteo*) — These birds of prey are a main predator. - **Eaten by:** [European Badger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-badger) (*Meles meles*) — Badgers sometimes hunt snakes in their habitat. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a snake, it's best to watch from a distance and not touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify barred grass snake? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is barred grass snake? 70-140 cm ### How much does barred grass snake weigh? 0.2-1 kg ### How long does barred grass snake live? 10-15 years ### How fast can barred grass snake move? 8 km/h ### What does barred grass snake eat? They love feasting on amphibians like frogs and newts, plus fish, which they cleverly hunt in water. ### How fast can barred grass snake swim? 2 km/h ### Where is barred grass snake usually found? Wetlands ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Barred Grass Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barred-grass-snake)