Water snake
The Dice snake is a nonvenomous snake found in Eurasia. Its color may vary from greyish green to brownish or almost black, with dark spots on the back. The belly is sometimes vividly colored in yellow or orange, with black spots, very similar to dice, hence the name. Females of this species are bigger than males.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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PiscivoresA piscivore is a carnivorous animal that eats primarily fish. Piscivorous is equivalent to the Greek-derived word ichthyophagous. Fish were the die...
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SemiaquaticSemiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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Non-venomousGe
Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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Dice snakes occur through much of Eurasia and are also present in Egypt. They live near rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, and the surrounding grasslands. They can also be found in coastal areas and frequent plantations and urban areas.
Dice snakes are terrestrial and spend much of their time in the water hunting for fish and other aquatic animals. When feeling threatened, they spread a very bad-smelling secretion from their cloaca or play dead. Dice snakes are generally solitary but during the mating season, they congregate in large groups. Starting October they hide in dry holes near the water where they hibernate until April.
Dice snakes are carnivores (piscivores) and frequently feed on fish. Sometimes, they will also take amphibians such as frogs, toads, and tadpoles.
The breeding season of Dice snakes takes place between March and May and egg-laying is usually in July. The female lays a clutch of 10-30 eggs which hatch in early September.
Dice snakes are not considered endangered at present, however, they suffer from loss of the wetland habitat in some areas of their range, pollution, roadkill, persecution by people, and collection for the pet trade.
According to IUCN, the Dice snake is locally common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
