Natrix natrix
Silhouette: Danny S. · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
The grass snake (Natrix natrix), sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake, is a Eurasian semi-aquatic non-venomous colubrid snake. It is often found near water and feeds almost exclusively on amphibians. Many subspecies are recognized, including:
Natrix natrix helvetica (Lacépède, 1789) was formerly considered as a subspecies, but following a genetic analysis it was recognised in August 2017 as a separate species, Natrix helvetica, the barred grass snake. Four other subspecies were transferred from N. natrix to N. helvetica, becoming N. helvetica cettii, N. helvetica corsa, N. helvetica lanzai and N. helvetica sicula.
The subspecies N. natrix astreptophora, found in the Iberian peninsula, the Pyrenees, and North-Western Africa, has been reclassified as its own species Natrix astreptophora or the Iberian grass snake. The grass snake is typically dark green or brown in colour with a characteristic yellow or white collar behind the head, earning it the alternative name of 'ringed snake'. Its colouration can range from grey to black; darker colours are more prevalent in colder regions, presumably due to the thermal benefits of dark pigmentation... Wikipedia →
Recording0:05
Russia · 2025
© tatianakirova · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
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Russia · 2020
© kltsv · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
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Russia · 2025
© Shumik A · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Białowieża National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 2 | Biebrza National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 3 | Hortobágy National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 4 | Triglav National Park | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | |
| 5 | Gauja National Park | 🇱🇻 Latvia | |
| 6 | Plitvice Lakes National Park | 🇭🇷 Croatia | |
| 7 | Kiskunság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 8 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 9 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 10 | Tatra National Park | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | |
| 11 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prague Zoo | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 2 | Skansen | 🇸🇪 Sweden | |
| 3 | Skandinavisk Dyrepark | 🇩🇰 Denmark | |
| 4 | Augsburg Zoo | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 5 | Tiergarten Straubing | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 6 | Zagreb Zoo | 🇭🇷 Croatia | |
| 7 | Grodno Zoo | 🇧🇾 Belarus | |
| 8 | AQUA Akvarium & Dyrepark | 🇩🇰 Denmark | |
| 9 | Tirana Zoo | 🇦🇱 Albania | |
| 10 | Alpenzoo Innsbruck | 🇦🇹 Austria | |
| 11 | Universeum | 🇸🇪 Sweden | |
| 12 | Kupittaan lintulammikko | 🇫🇮 Finland | |
| 13 | Baltic Sea Science Center | 🇸🇪 Sweden | |
| 14 | Rákosův pavilon | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 15 | Reptiland | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 16 | Velemlokárium | 🇨🇿 Czechia |
No species of the same family or order lives in Wadden Sea National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a grass snake sighting in Wadden Sea National Park on a given day, based on 16 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 5th most-seen of the 5 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.
May to October
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a grass snake in Wadden Sea National Park on a given day, against under 5% in November to April, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most grass snake sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
11th of 11
Of the 11 parks where we can rate grass snake sightings, Wadden Sea National Park ranks 11th at about 10%. The best odds are in Białowieża National Park (Poland, about 80%), Biebrza National Park (Poland, about 50%) and Hortobágy National Park (Hungary, about 50%). All parks ranked.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the grass snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Wadden Sea National Park (16 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.
