Editing Smooth snake

{{Short description|Species of non-venomous snake}}
{{About|the animal|other uses}}
{{Speciesbox
| name= Smooth snake
| image = Schlingnatter.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Crnobrnja-Isailović, J. |author2=Ajtic, R. |author3=Vogrin, M. |author4=Corti, C. |author5=Pérez Mellado, V. |author6=Sá-Sousa, P. |author7=Cheylan, M. |author8=Pleguezuelos, J. |author9=Westerström, A. |author10=De Haan, C.C. |author11=Tok, V. |author12=Borczyk, B. |author13=Sterijovski, B. |author14=Schmidt, B. |author15=Borkin, L. |author16=Milto, K. |author17=Golynsky, E. |author18=Rustamov, A, Nuridjanov, D. |author19=Munkhbayar, K. |author20=Shestopal, A. |author21=Litvinchuk, S. |display-authors=3 |year=2017 |title=Coronella austriaca |page=e.T157284A748852 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T157284A748852.en |access-date=9 June 2022}}</ref>
| taxon = Coronella austriaca
| authority = [[Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti|Laurenti]], 1768<ref name=RDB>{{EMBL species|genus=Coronella|species=austriaca}}. www.reptile-database.org.</ref>
| range_map = CoronellaAustriacaIUCNver2020-1.png
| range_map_caption = Range of ''C. austriaca''
}}
The '''smooth snake''' ('''''Coronella austriaca''''')<ref name="Str79">Street D (1979). ''The Reptiles of Northern and Central Europe''. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. 268 pp. {{ISBN|0-7134-1374-3}}.</ref> is a [[species]] of non-[[venomous snake]] in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Colubridae]]. The species is found in northern and central Europe, but also as far east as northern Iran. The [[Reptile Database]] recognizes two [[subspecies]] as being valid, including the [[nominotypical subspecies]] described here.<ref name=RDB/>

==Description==
[[File:Smooth Snake, Cheile Turzii, Cluj, RO imported from iNaturalist photo 50533718.jpg|left|thumb|Eating a [[grass snake]]]]
Both sexes of ''C. austriaca'' grow to an average total length (including tail) of about {{convert|60|cm|in|abbr=on}} to {{convert|75|cm|in|abbr=on}}. Two specimens measuring {{convert|83|cm|in|abbr=on}} have been recorded in Sweden, as well as one in Russia that was {{convert|92|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Str79"/>

The head has a [[rostral scale]] that is at least as deep as it is wide, creating a triangular indentation between the [[internasal scales]] (rarely separating them). The top of the head is covered with nine large plates. The [[nasal scale]] is often divided. There is one (rarely two) [[preoculars]] and two [[postoculars]]. The [[Temporal scales|temporals]] number 2+2 or 2+3 (rarely 1+2) . There are seven (rarely eight) [[upper labials]], of which the third and fourth or fourth and fifth border the eye.<ref name="Str79"/>

In the middle part of the body there are 19 (rarely 17 or 21) rows of [[dorsal scales]]. In contrast with many other snakes found in the region, these scales are flat (not keeled).  This gives the snake a smooth texture to the touch, from which it gets its common name.  The [[ventral scales]] number 150-164 in males and 162–200 in females. The [[anal scale]] is divided (rarely single) and the [[subcaudal scales]] are paired. Males have 54–70 subcaudal scales and females 40–76.<ref name="Str79"/>

The colour pattern consists of a brown, grey or reddish ground colour<ref name="Ste71">Steward JW (1971). ''The Snakes of Europe''. Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Press (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press). 238 pp. LCCCN 77-163307. {{ISBN|0-8386-1023-4}}.</ref> with two rows of small, rather indistinct dark spots running down the back towards the tail. In some cases, each pair of spots may be united toward the neck area, forming a series of cross-bars over the back. There is also a very indistinct series of dark spots running along each of the flanks. These four series of spots along the body overlay four parallel, rather shadowy stripes that also run down the back and flanks.<ref name="Str79"/>

On the top of the head is a dark marking which is often in the shape of a crown, giving rise to the [[Genus|generic]] name ''Coronella'' (which means [[coronet]]). A relatively thick dark stripe extends from each nostril, through the eye, and along the side of the head to a little beyond the neck. The upper labials are whitish, greyish-white or light brown, sometimes with darker spots. The tongue is reddish brown or dark red.<ref name="Str79"/>

==Biology==
The smooth snake feeds on smaller animals, especially other reptiles. It subdues larger prey by constriction, although unlike true [[Constriction|constrictors]] it does not kill by this method.<ref>[http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/cgi-bin/SARG2ReptileSpeciesData.asp?Species=Smooth_Snake Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group smooth snake page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223090606/http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/cgi-bin/SARG2ReptileSpeciesData.asp?Species=Smooth_Snake|date=2012-02-23}}</ref>  Smooth snakes are [[Ovoviviparity|ovoviviparous]]: the juveniles hatch out of eggs internally and are born live.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Die Schlingnatter ein heimlicher Jäger. – Beiheft der Zeitschrift für Feldherpetologie 6|author=Völkl W, Käsewieter D|publisher=Laurenti-Verlag|year=2003|isbn=978-3-933066-15-2|location=Bielefeld|pages=151}} (in German).</ref>

In Britain it is restricted to [[heathland]] habitats.

==Geographic range==
''Coronella austriaca'' is found from the [[Southern England|south of England]] through France and the [[Low Countries]] to northern Spain and Portugal, Germany, Norway and Sweden (as far north as latitude 63°), Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia,  Switzerland, Austria, Italy and [[Sicily]] (but not in [[Corsica]] or [[Sardinia]]), the western [[Balkans]] and Greece, and [[European Russia]] as far north as latitude 57°. In Asia, it is found from Turkey to [[Azerbaijan]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Armenia]] and northern Iran.<ref name="Ste71"/> It is absent in Denmark despite the species being found just south of the German border as well as in southern Sweden. The species is only known from Denmark from 6 specimens, all found between 1870 and 1914.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Hvass |editor-first1=Hans |title=Danmarks Dyreverden |date=1970 |publisher=Rosenkilde og Bagger |location=Copenhagen}}</ref>

In Finland, the species is found only in [[Åland]], and it is not common there.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

==Subspecies==
{|cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 border=1 style="border-collapse: collapse;"
!bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Subspecies<ref name=RDB/>
!bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Authority<ref name=RDB/>
!bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Geographic range
|-
|''C. a. austriaca''
|[[Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti|Laurenti]], 1768
|style="width:40%"|
|-
|''[[Coronella austriaca acutirostris|C. a. acutirostris]]''
|[[Rudolf Malkmus|Malkmus]], 1995
|Portugal
|-
<!-- |''[[Coronella austriaca fitzingeri|C. a. fitzingeri]]''
|Bonaparte, 1840
|Southern [[Italy]] and [[Sicily]].<ref name="Str79"/>
|- -->
|}

==See also==
*[[List of reptiles of Europe]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*[[:fr:Edwin Nicholas Arnold|Arnold EN]], Burton JA (1978). ''A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe''. (With 351 illustrations, 257 in colour by [[Denys Ovenden|D.W. Ovenden]]). London: Collins. 272 pp. + Plates 1-40. {{ISBN|0-00-219318-3}}. (''Coronella austriaca'', pp.&nbsp;204–205 + Plate 38, figure 1 + Map 117).
*[[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger GA]] (1894). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ.'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (''Coronella austriaca'', pp.&nbsp;191–193).
*[[Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti|Laurenti JN]] (1768). ''Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum.'' Vienna: "Joan. Thom. Nob. de Trattnern". 214 pp. + Plates I-V. (''Coronella austriaca'', new species, p.&nbsp;84 + Plate V, figure 1). (in Latin).
*[[Rudolf Malkmus|Malkmus R]] (1995). "Coronella austriaca acutirostris ''subspec. nov. aus dem Nordwesten der Iberischen Halbinsel (Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae)'' ". ''Zoologische Abhandlungen, Museum für Tierkunde Dresden'' '''48''' (3): 265-278. (''Coronella austriaca acutirostris'', new subspecies). (in German).

==Gallery==
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:Rézsikló (Coronella austriaca) feje.jpg|Head of ''C. austriaca''.
Image:Rézsikló (Coronella austriaca)3.jpg|''C. austriaca'' in [[Hungary]].
File:Coronella austriaca s.jpg|''C. austriaca'' in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]].
Image:coronella_austriaca.jpg|''C. austriaca'' curled up.
Image:CoronellaAustriaca2.jpg|Subadult ''C. austriaca'' in northern [[Germany]].
</gallery>

==External links==
{{Commons|Coronella austriaca|Smooth snake}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120223090606/http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/cgi-bin/SARG2ReptileSpeciesData.asp?Species=Smooth_Snake Smooth snake (''Coronella austriaca'')] at [http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/ Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group (SARG)]. Accessed 5 June 2008.
*[http://www.herp.it/indexjs.htm?SpeciesPages/CoronAustr.htm ''Coronella austriaca''] at [http://www.herp.it/ Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe]. Accessed 7 October 2006.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060626110814/http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/reptiles/Coronella_austriaca/ Smooth snake (''Coronella austriaca'')] at [https://archive.today/20160426231847/http://www.arkive.org/ ARKive]. Accessed 7 October 2006.
*[http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/smooth_snake.htm Smooth Snake – ''Coronella austriaca''] at [http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/ Reptiles and Amphibians of the UK]. Accessed 7 October 2006.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120210223834/http://www.reptilia-amphibia.net/index.html?en%2Fsnake%2Faustriaca.html~mainFrame Smooth snake, ''Coronella austriaca''] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20070808155828/http://www.reptilia-amphibia.net/ Reptiles & Amphibians of France]. Accessed 30 October 2006.
*[http://www.herp-am.narod.ru/Species/ca.htm ''Coronella austriaca''] at [http://www.herp-am.narod.ru/Species/ca.htm Checklist of Armenia's Amphibians and Reptiles, Tadevosyan's Herpetological Resources]. Accessed 30 March 2007.
*[http://www.hildenborg.com/?p=182 Smooth Snake] at [http://www.hildenborg.com/?p=182 Blog posting with two pictures of ''Coronella austriaca'']. Accessed 18 July 2007.
*[https://kirjasto.jyu.fi/kauppa/tuotteet/warning-signalling-in-european-vipers-and-their-mimics Smooth snake (''Coronella austriaca'')] at [https://kirjasto.jyu.fi/kauppa/tuotteet/warning-signalling-in-european-vipers-and-their-mimics Dissertation abstract about smooth snakes mimicry of vipers being a protective behavior, scaring off some predators.]  Accessed 15 July 2014
*[http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/157284/1 IUCN Red List]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q208648}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Coronella]]
[[Category:Snakes of Asia]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Europe]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Russia]]
[[Category:Fauna of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Reptiles described in 1768]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti]]