When you think of Greece, you probably imagine crystal-clear water and sandy beaches. Snakes will probably not be your first association with this south Balkan country. However, Greece has a Mediterranean climate with long, dry, hot summers and mild winters, which is perfect for snakes.

The Greek snake fauna consists of 21 species of snakes belonging to 4 families. These include small and harmless snakes, but also many aggressive and venomous vipers. Most snakes in Greece feed on small animals like rodents and lizards. 

We will go through some Greek snake species, discussing their appearance, behavior, and geographical distribution. Keep reading to learn more about the herpetofauna of Greece.

1. European Blind Snake (Xerotyphlops vermicularis)

The European blind snake is of Asiatic origin. It can be found in mainland Greece, the Ionic islands, Peloponnese, and the Aegean islands. It is a small and harmless snake that might look like a large worm at first sight.

Despite having European in its name, the habitat of this snake extends all the way to Afghanistan. 

2. The Meadow Viper (Vipera Usinii)

The meadow viper is a protected species and lives in the forests of Greece. It is the smallest European viper, with less than 24 inches (60 cm) in length. It is venomous but harmless to people. It has a triangular head, a dorsal zigzag, and other dark markings on a lighter background.

3. The Caspian Whipsnake (Dolichophis caspius)

The Caspian Whipsnake is a greyish-brown snake with no markings on the back. It has a long and thin body. It can be aggressive and fast, but it usually is not a threat to humans. The Caspian Whipsnake is a diurnal and terrestrial snake, and it’s also an excellent climber.

4. The Black Whipsnake (Dolichopis Jugularis)

The black whip snake is a non-venomous snake species. It has a slender body and can grow up to 9.8 feet (3 meters) in length. It inhabits forests and rocky terrains, which are often found in Greece. It is a terrestrial and diurnal snake. It is known to show aggression and can attack without any specific reason.

5. Bosnian Viper (Vipera berus bosniensis)

The Bosnian viper is a venomous viper endemic to the Balkans. It is found in mainland Greece in the northern mountain regions. The adder comes out to bask in the sun and hunt for prey during the day. It rarely exceeds 35 inches (90 cm) in length. The color varies from white and light grey to brownish-red. It is not aggressive but will attack in self-defense.

6. Nose-Horned Viper (Vipera ammodytes) 

Found in mainland Greece and the Peloponnes island. It is a snake found on dry, rocky slopes. It is generally diurnal. It is not aggressive, and it’s a rather phlegmatic species. If, however, it decides to attack, the outcome can be lethal since it’s one of the most dangerous European vipers.

7. Cat Snake (Telescopus f. fallax)

The Cat snake can be found in the Ionian islands. It thrived on rocky terrain, slopes, and mountains with bush vegetation. Its body is slender. It is a nocturnal animal and feeds on lizards and small mammals. It is non-venomous and harmless to people.

8. Dice Snake (Natrix t. tessellata)

The Dice snake is a semiaquatic and diurnal animal. It sometimes lives near freshwater and can also be adapted to marine environments such as Greece. They grow to be between 3.2 and 4.3 feet (1 and 1.3 meters) long. Dice snakes can be grayish-green to dark brown and have dark spots.

9. Balkan Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)

The grass snake (Natrix natrix) is a non-venomous Eurasian snake. It feeds almost exclusively on frogs. It is greyish-green with black markings along the body. It makes threatening noise and pretends to bite, but it rarely does. It can reach a length of over 3.3 feet (1 meter).

10. The Eastern Montpellier Snake (Malpolon insignitus)

The Eastern Montpellier snake is a mildly venomous Mediterranean snake. It is among the largest snakes in Europe and can grow to more than 7 feet (2 meters) in length. It has narrow, longitudinal stripes. It usually feeds on other lizards.

11. Leopard Snake (Zamenis situla)

The leopard snake is an endangered snake species. It is hunted because of its unusual and colorful skin pattern resembling a leopard. It can grow up to 3.3 feet (1 meter) in length. It hunts during the day and is found in forests and fields.

12. Four-Line Snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata)

The Four-lined snake is a non-venomous Eastern Mediterranean snake. It inhabits forests and rocky slopes. It can often be found around wet areas, including streams. It can reach more than 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) in length.

Despite its size, it is a relatively slow and non-aggressive snake. It kills using constriction. It is a great swimmer and climber, so it can easily travel long distances overseas or on land. 

13. Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca)

The Smooth snake is non-venomous. It has two rows of dark spots along the body that may appear as horns on top of the head. They come in grey, brown, and rarely red colors. It is a diurnal but inconspicuous snake that likes to hide in the grass. It is a phlegmatic animal but can get aggressive if it senses some threat.

14. Ring-Headed Dwarf Snake (Eirenis modestus)

The dwarf snake is a non-venomous snake native to some Greek islands. It is a small, thin snake that can grow up to 24 inches (60 cm) in length. The dwarf snake is harmless and calm. It varies in color, from brownish or greyish to some red variations. 

15. Dahls’ Whip Snake (Platyceps najadum)

The Dahl’s whip snake or slender whip snake is a small and slender snake that doesn’t grow more than 3.3 feet (1 meter) in length. It is usually green or grey with characteristic black spots along its head. Some members of this species can be entirely black. It has smooth scaling.

16. Balkan Whip Snake (Hierophis gemonensis)

The Balkan Whip Snake is a species confined to the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It lives in dry, rocky areas, bushes, forests, and roads. It only comes out during the day to hunt. It can be aggressive if held. It usually measures under 3.3 feet (1 meter).

17. The Javelin Sand Boa (Eryx jaculus)

The javelin sand boa is a small non-venomous snake that may grow to 31 inches (80 cm). Its color varies from gray to brown and red tones with a lighter belly. This small snake is of African-Asiatic origin. The Javelin sand boa was used by the ancient Greeks as projectiles during naval warfare.

18. Coin-Marked Snake (Hemorrhois nummifer)

The coin-marked snake is diurnal and feeds on small mammals, lizards, and birds. It is harmless to humans, although it is often confused with vipers due to its appearance. It can reach a length of 39 inches (1 meter) and can be brown, gray, or olive gray.

19. Ottoman Viper (Montivipera xanthina)

The Ottoman viper is found in Greece and Turkey. Its venom is potentially lethal. This small snake usually measures 2 feet (0.65 meters), but it is very aggressive and may attack unprovoked. 

It has a thick body and a short tail. The head is more oval than triangular in shape. It can be grey or white with a zigzag pattern on the back. 

20. The Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissima)

The Aesculapian snake is non-venomous. It is large and can grow more than 6.6 feet (2 meters) in length. It is dark, slender, and smooth. They prefer mild climates found in warm forests and wet rocky habitats. The Aesculapian snake is diurnal and an excellent climber. They are not aggressive and are avoidant of people. 

21. Cyclades Blunt-Nosed Viper (Macrovipera schweizeri)

The Macrovipera schweizeri is a nocturnal venomous snake preying on small rodents, birds, and lizards. It can be found on the Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea around rocky terrains. It doesn’t grow more than 3.3 feet (1 meter).

Final Thoughts

The snakes in Greece are mostly non-venomous, although there are several vipers that you might need to avoid at all costs. If you want to visit Greece without worrying about snakes, avoid dry, rocky places and wet, bushy areas. Stay near populated places and busy beaches, and you will be safe.