# Southern Smooth Snake (*Coronella girondica*) The Southern Smooth Snake is a gentle snake that loves to hide in the grass. It has smooth, shiny scales and is usually brown or gray. This snake is shy and prefers to stay away from people. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Southern Smooth Snake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/BennyTrapp_Coronella_girondica.jpg&width=800) Photo: Benny Trapp, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BennyTrapp_Coronella_girondica.jpg) ## Appearance The Southern Smooth Snake is a slender reptile, typically grey-brown to reddish-brown, often adorned with two rows of dark spots or a subtle zigzag pattern along its back. It has a distinctive dark stripe running from its nostril through its round eye to its neck, helping it blend into its surroundings. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Coronella ## Interesting facts - They are called "smooth snakes" because their scales are super sleek and non-keeled! - This harmless snake sometimes plays dead, going stiff and even releasing a scent to fool predators! - This snake loves sunny spots; it warms up its body by basking on rocks and dry grass! - Unlike many snakes, it has round pupils, giving it a gentle, watchful gaze. ## Special abilities - **Viper Pretender:** Southern Smooth Snakes can flatten their heads and strike when threatened, making them look like a dangerous viper to scare off predators. - **Constrictor Grip:** Southern Smooth Snakes can powerfully squeeze their prey, wrapping around small lizards and rodents to quickly subdue them before eating. - **Camouflage Master:** Southern Smooth Snakes have a dappled brown and grey pattern that helps them vanish into dry grass and rocky areas. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 40-70 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-12 years - **Speed:** 3 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-16 - **Incubation:** 50-70 days ## Diet & Feeding This snake is a carnivore that mostly eats lizards and small mammals! - **Age differences:** Younger snakes eat more lizards and insects, while adults focus on larger prey like rodents. - **Primary Foods:** lizards, voles, shrews, young mice - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Common Wall Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-wall-lizard) (*Podarcis muralis*) — A favorite meal, ambushed and constricted in sunny spots. - **Hunts:** [Common Vole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-vole) (*Microtus arvalis*) — Preys on these rodents, especially their young, found in burrows. - **Eaten by:** [Common Buzzard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-buzzard) (*Buteo buteo*) — A common bird of prey that can snatch up snakes from open areas. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — A common predator that can dig up hibernating snakes or catch them. ## Traits - [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. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Hibernating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/hibernating): Hibernating animals enter a state of metabolic depression during cold periods or when food is scarce, characterized by reduced body temperature and activity. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a snake, it's best to stay calm and walk away. Snakes are usually not harmful if left alone. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern Smooth 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 Southern Smooth Snake? 40-70 cm ### How much does Southern Smooth Snake weigh? 0.05-0.2 kg ### How long does Southern Smooth Snake live? 8-12 years ### How fast can Southern Smooth Snake move? 3 km/h ### What does Southern Smooth Snake eat? This snake is a carnivore that mostly eats lizards and small mammals! ### Where is Southern Smooth Snake usually found? Grasslands ### How does Southern Smooth Snake hunt? Ambush ## 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: [Southern Smooth Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-smooth-snake)