Eastern montpellier snake

The distribution of Malpolon insignitus is on the Adriatic coast and the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, the Caucasus, Southwest Asia and North Africa. In Bulgaria it is found in the southwest, Eastern Rhodopes, Derventa hills, Strandzha and the Southern Black Sea coast up to about 500 m above sea level.

The Eastern montpellier snake reaches a size of 157 cm. Between the eyes and to the tip of the nose (Rostrale) there is a longitudinal depression and above the eyes, the upper ends are slightly protruding, which gives a characteristic “frown” look of the head. In the upper jaw, in the back end there is an elongated tooth connected with venom glands. In older individuals, the dorsal side is bluish-grey or grey-green, rarely brownish, without spots (or barely noticeable). The abdomen is light yellow or whitish, more often without spots (sometimes there are pale brown spots). In young individuals, the dorsal side is grey-brown, with dark transverse spots on top and smaller on the sides. Their abdomen is light with brown or orange spots; on the sides of the neck and on the lower surface of the head have orange or brown spots separated by light fields. The species is daily active. Hunts on the surface, less often in holes or under rocks, often actively pursuing its victims. When looking for prey or when leaving the shelter in the morning, the snake raises the front of the body vertically and looks around. The species feeds on lizards and other snakes, less often on rodents, shrews or small birds. When the victim is caught, it wraps itself around the prey, bites it with poisonous teeth and swallow it after paralyzing it. The reproduction of the snake is not well studied. The copulation is in May, and the eggs are laying in June-July. It lays about 5 to 20 eggs, depending on the area in which is located. The species prefers dry, stony or sandy terrains with xerophytic grasses and shrubs. In Eastern Bulgaria are found in forest meadows and clearings in sparse deciduous forests.

Unknown.

The Eastern montpellier snake is a protected species included in Annex 3 of the Biodiversity Act (BDA) and is also included in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species with category Least Concern (LC).

*Note: For the description of amphibians and reptiles is used information from: Golemanski, V. & al. (eds). 2015. Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Vol. 2. Animals. BAS & MoEW, Sofia [English ed.: ISBN 978-954-9746-22-8 (IBER – BAS), 978-954-8497-18-3 (MoEW)]; Biserkov, V. (Editor), 2007. A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Bulgaria. Sofia, Green Balkans, 196 pp.; the website of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).