# Grass Snake (*Natrix natrix*) The Grass Snake is a slender snake that loves to live near water! They are often seen swimming gracefully. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands and grassy areas - **Also known as:** Ringed Snake, Water Snake ![Grass Snake](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426471/objects/5602.jpg) ## Appearance The Grass Snake is typically olive-green to brownish-grey with dark spots along its sides. It has a distinctive yellow or white collar behind its head, bordered by black, making it easy to identify. Its body is slender. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Natrix ## Interesting facts - Baby grass snakes are only as long as your finger when they hatch! - Their eggs are often laid in warm compost piles or rotting leaves. - They can play dead by flipping over and pretending to be lifeless! - They have a gland that makes them smell bad to scare predators! ## Special abilities - **Drama Queen:** Grass Snake can play dead by flipping onto its back and staying still, which helps them avoid predators. - **Stinky Spray:** Grass Snake has glands that release a strong-smelling musk when threatened, helping them deter attackers. - **Warm Nest Builder:** Grass Snake can lay eggs in warm compost heaps or rotting vegetation, which helps them incubate naturally. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-120 cm - **Weight:** 0.1-0.3 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 3 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 2 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 10-40 - **Incubation:** 40-70 days - **Maximum Depth:** 2 m ## Diet & Feeding Grass snakes are carnivores that primarily hunt amphibians and fish in their watery habitats. - **Primary Foods:** frogs, toads, newts, fish - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Common Buzzard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-buzzard) (*Buteo buteo*) — A common predator, especially for younger snakes. - **Hunts:** Common Frog (*Rana temporaria*) — A primary food source, caught near water. - **Hunts:** Common Toad (*Bufo bufo*) — Another common amphibian prey item for the snake. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [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. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify 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 Grass Snake? 60-120 cm ### How much does Grass Snake weigh? 0.1-0.3 kg ### How long does Grass Snake live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Grass Snake move? 3 km/h ### What does Grass Snake eat? Grass snakes are carnivores that primarily hunt amphibians and fish in their watery habitats. ### How fast can Grass Snake swim? 2 km/h ### Where is Grass Snake usually found? Wetlands and grassy areas ## Where to spot - [Kolmårdens djurpark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kolm-rdens-djurpark) — Östergötland County, SE · Zoo - [Landschaftspark Herzberge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/landschaftspark-herzberge-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Park ## 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: [Grass Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grass-snake)