Smooth Snake

Smooth Snake

Coronella austriaca

Silhouette: Iconographia Zoologica · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
at Triglav National Park

In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%

36 Verified sightings at Triglav National Park From 2019 to 2026
222 In all 10 parks
November Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Smooth Snake

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 →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
~40%
2 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~30%
3 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~20%
4 Picos de Europa National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
5 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
~20%
6 Mercantour National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%
7 Ecrins National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%
8 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
9 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~10%
10 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Budapest 🇭🇺 Hungary
~10%
2 Prague 🇨🇿 Czechia
~10%
3 Vienna 🇦🇹 Austria
~10%
4 Paris 🇫🇷 France
<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Prague Zoo 🇨🇿 Czechia In captivity
2 Tiergarten Straubing 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
3 AQUA Akvarium & Dyrepark 🇩🇰 Denmark In captivity
4 Tirana Zoo 🇦🇱 Albania In captivity
5 Alpenzoo Innsbruck 🇦🇹 Austria In captivity
6 Universeum 🇸🇪 Sweden In captivity
7 Rákosův pavilon 🇨🇿 Czechia In captivity
8 Velemlokárium 🇨🇿 Czechia In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Smooth Snake in Triglav National Park?

Likely

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Smooth Snake sighting in Triglav National Park on a given day, based on 36 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 5th most-seen of the 11 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Smooth Snake in Triglav National Park?

May–June and November

In those months about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Smooth Snake in Triglav National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March, the lowest month.

What time of day is best to see a Smooth Snake?

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.

Is Triglav National Park the best place to see a Smooth Snake?

Yes

Of the 10 parks where we can rate Smooth Snake sightings, Triglav National Park has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Kiskunság National Park (Hungary, about 30%) and Bavarian Forest National Park (Germany, about 20%).

Which relatives of the Smooth Snake live in Triglav National Park?

Same family: Colubridae

The closest relatives of the Smooth Snake that you can see in Triglav National Park (family Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes) are grass snake (about 50%), Tessellated Water Snake (about 40%) and Aesculapian Snake (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Smooth Snake sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Smooth Snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Triglav National Park (36 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.

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