Coronella austriaca
Silhouette: Iconographia Zoologica · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
The smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) is a species of small dimensions in the 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.
There are two subspecies: Coronella austriaca is found from the 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, Armenia and northern Iran. 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.
In Finland, the species is found only in Åland, and it is not common there. Both sexes of C. austriaca grow to an average total length (including tail... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Triglav National Park | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | |
| 2 | Kiskunság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 3 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 4 | Picos de Europa National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 5 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 6 | Mercantour National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 7 | Ecrins National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 8 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 9 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 10 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prague Zoo | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 2 | Tiergarten Straubing | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | AQUA Akvarium & Dyrepark | 🇩🇰 Denmark | |
| 4 | Tirana Zoo | 🇦🇱 Albania | |
| 5 | Alpenzoo Innsbruck | 🇦🇹 Austria | |
| 6 | Universeum | 🇸🇪 Sweden | |
| 7 | Rákosův pavilon | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 8 | Velemlokárium | 🇨🇿 Czechia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Smooth Snake sighting in Prague on a given day, based on 71 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 8th most-seen of the 9 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
August and October
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Smooth Snake in Prague on a given day, against under 5% in November to February, the lowest months.
Between 2 and 5 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Smooth Snake sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Smooth Snake sightings, Prague ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Budapest (Hungary, about 10%).
Same family: Colubridae
The closest relatives of the Smooth Snake that you can see in Prague (family Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes) are Tessellated Water Snake (about 10%) and grass snake (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Smooth Snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Prague (71 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.
