Zamenis scalaris
Silhouette: Beth Reinke · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
The ladder snake (Zamenis scalaris) is a species of non-venomous snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to southwestern Europe. The geographic range of the ladder snake includes Portugal, Spain, southern France and just into Italy, also Menorca and the Iles d'Hyères off Provence, but it is absent from northern Iberia including much of the Pyrenees, Galicia (although the species is found on Ons Island, in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park), Cantabria and the Basque Country. The population on Menorca may stem from an introduction by humans.
The ladder snake enjoys scrub bushy cover, including orchards, vineyards, hedges and overgrown dry-stone walls; it is common in the maquis. Habitats with stones and boulders and low shade are preferred. Although known at altitudes over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), this is a species which prefers altitudes from sea level to 700 metres (2,300 ft).
The ladder snake is a medium-sized snake which reaches a maximum total length (tail included) of around 160 cm (63 in) but which averages 120 cm (47 in) in total length. It has a pointed snout. As an adult... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra Nevada National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 2 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 3 | Monfragüe National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 4 | Doñana National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 5 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona Zoo | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 2 | Paris Zoological Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 3 | Aquarium du palais de la Porte Dorée | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 4 | Aquarama Barcelona | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 5 | Reserva Zoológica Oasys MiniHollywood | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 6 | Alpenzoo Innsbruck | 🇦🇹 Austria | |
| 7 | South Carolina Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Public marine aquarium of Trieste | 🇮🇹 Italy | |
| 9 | Reptilandia | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Ladder Snake sighting in Barcelona on a given day, based on 15 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 7th most-seen of the 11 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March and May–September
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Ladder Snake in Barcelona on a given day, against under 5% in April and October–February, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Ladder Snake sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
Among the best
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Ladder Snake sightings, Barcelona ranks 3rd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Madrid (Spain, about 10%) and Porto (Portugal, about 10%).
Same family: Colubridae
The closest relatives of the Ladder Snake that you can see in Barcelona (family Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes) are Viperine Snake (about 10%) and Southern Smooth Snake (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Ladder Snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Barcelona (15 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
