Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)

The smooth snake with the scientific name Coronella austriaca is one of our most common yet most overlooked snakes. It is a small and completely harmless species that rarely exceeds 70 centimeters in length. Its body is usually grayish or brown in color, adorned with characteristic dark spots arranged in two rows along the back. Due to these spots, laypeople often mistake it for the venomous adder, but the smooth snake lacks a closed zigzag pattern, and its pupils are round, not vertical like the adder's.
In nature, it is most commonly found in sunny but somewhat overgrown places such as mountain meadows, forest edges, and stone fences. It is an extremely calm and slow snake that, in case of danger, prefers to curl into a circle and freeze rather than attempt to escape. It is a distinctly terrestrial animal that skillfully conceals itself among low vegetation and dry leaves using its protective coloration, so a hiker notices it only with very careful observation of the surroundings.
In the ecosystem, the smooth snake has a special role as a specialized predator of lizards and other small reptiles, occasionally also feeding on small rodents. In Slovenia, the smooth snake is a protected species, meaning its preservation is crucial for the natural balance of our landscapes. Since it is completely harmless to humans, take a moment when encountering it on a hiking trail to safely observe this interesting and beneficial inhabitant of our hilly landscapes.