Grass snake
species of reptile
The grass snake (Natrix) is a non-venomous snake. It is often found near water and feeds almost exclusively on amphibia and lizards.
| Grass snake | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Natrix |
| Species: | N. natrix
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| Binomial name | |
| Natrix natrix | |
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| Natrix natrix range map | |
| Synonyms | |
The grass snake is widely distributed in mainland Europe, from mid Scandinavia to southern Italy. It is also found in Middle East and northwestern Africa.
There is a native species in Great Britain but it is not Natrix natrix. It is Natrix helvetica the barred grass snake. The two subspecies were both called Natrix natrix until recently (2017).
Work by the Senckenberg Research Institute in Germany lead a study into the genetics of over 1,600 grass snakes.
References
change- ↑ European Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Group (1996). "Natrix natrix". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
