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Trees- ShrubsMontepellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus)
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The Montepellier Snake is a large, formidable snake which can reach up to 240 cm in length, including its tail, (1) and reach a weight of approximately three kilograms. They have a slender body and characteristically narrow head, large eyes and a ridge that extends from above the eyes to the snout. The snout overhangs the lower jaw and the frontal scale is especially narrow (1). The dorsal scales are large and un-keeled with 17 to 19 found on the mid-body.
Malpolon monspessulanus usually has a uniform colouring of either grey, reddish-brown, olive greenish or blackish (1). Some will be found with the flanks darker than the back. The underside is usually yellowish, mottled with a dark pigment (1). Irregular light spots can be found on the body, with the head and throat showing defined light or dark markings. Juveniles will be fairly non-uniform in their colouring, usually showing a blotched pattern with dark blotches on the back and a series of dark spots along the flanks (1).
Malpolon monspessulanus is one of two species in the Genus Malpolon; the other species is M. moilensis, the Moila Snake.
Malpolon monspessulanus is a mainly terrestrial, agile and aggressive snake; it has the ability to climb vegetation. It is frequently found basking in the sun by the roadside, often being killed by traffic (1). If threatened, the Montepellier Snake will respond with loud hissing, sometimes flattening, and inflating the front of the neck. Despite temperament varying, it is very likely that the snake will bite (1).
Montepellier Snakes have the ability to ‘waterproof’ themselves using large glands on the sides of the snout; the liquid leaves the nose and is spread over the body, the secretion reduces the loss of water from the skin (1).
In the hottest part of the summer, the snake displays crepuscular-nocturnal activity; this period seems to be expanding in relation with the raise of mean annual temperatures (1) (2).
During the mating season, males will partake in a combat ritual with other rivals. The female lays four to 20 eggs, although on average four 14 eggs, which are about 27 to 55 mm by 12 to 40 mm in size (1). These eggs get deposited under stones, dead leaves, cracks in timber, and sometimes in rabbit burrows. They will take approximately two months to hatch; the young will be around 20 to 36 cm long and take three to five years to become sexually mature (1).
Malpolom monspessulanus are found in warm, dry, Mediterranean habitats; usually with some form of foliage which is used to hide under. Open, rocky areas with vegetation are preferred, but the Montepellier Snake will still be found in arable land, open woods or sand dunes (1).
The Montepellier Snake is found across Europe in Iberian peninsula, France, Italy, east Adriatic coast, south Balkan peninsula up to Albania, Macedonia, southern Bulgaria, and some of the Greek islands. Outside of Europe, it is found in North Africa, west Caspian area and in south-west Asia (1).
Malpolon monspessulanus will use its venom, killing its prey in minutes; although because the fangs are located at the back of the upper jaw, a secure grip must be obtained (1). They largely feed on lizards, small mammals, other snakes and occasionally, birds; juveniles just feed on invertebrates (1).
Listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention (3).
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Redlist (2).
Many M. monspessulanus are killed on roadsides or prosecuted by farmers, but they are not under any major threat (2).
Description written by Ben Harvey (2009)
(1) Arnold, E.N., 2004. A field guide to the reptiles and amphibians of Britain and Europe. 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers.
(2) Iñigo Martínez-Solano, Claudia Corti, Valentin Pérez Mellado, Paulo Sá-Sousa, Juan M. Pleguezuelos, Marc Cheylan 2008. Malpolon monspessulanus. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on09 July 2009.
(3) Europe, C.o., 2002. Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats: Bern Convention. [Online] Available at: http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/FR/Treaties/Html/104-3.htm [Accessed 23 July 2009]
