The False smooth snake (Macroprotodon cucullatus) is a species of mildly venomous colubrid snake. It is found in the Mediterranean Basin and has a wide distribution and a large population.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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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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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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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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Mildly venomousMildly venomous animals produce venom, which they use to kill or disable prey, defend themselves from predators or conspecifics, or in agonistic en...
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withDorsally the False smooth snake is tan or gray, with small brown spots, or with darker and lighter streaks. Ventrally it is yellow to coral-red, uniform, or spotted with black, the spots sometimes confluent at the midline. It has a blackish collar which may extend to the top of the head. There is usually a dark streak from the nostril to the corner of the mouth, passing under or through the eye. The eye is rather small, and the pupil, when seen contracted in bright light, is oval. The snout is flattened, and the rostral is wide and low, barely visible from above. As the common name implies, the dorsal scales of this species are smooth and are arranged in 19-23 rows.
False smooth snakes occur in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Portugal, Spain, and Tunisia. They live in temperate forests, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, freshwater springs, rocky areas, and sandy shores. They can also be found in arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, and urban areas.
Little is known about the habits of False smooth snakes. They are known to live on the ground and are usually seen singly. In some parts of their range, they are nocturnal but in the Balearic Islands, they are mainly active during the day.
This species has a mild venom, which is delivered by means of enlarged grooved teeth in the upper jaw. Although the venom is effective on lizards, this snake is not harmful to humans due to its small size.
False smooth snakes are carnivores. Their diet includes small lizards such as geckos, small mammals, and nestling birds.
Females may breed every two years. They lay 2-6 eggs in a damp spot under a stone, buried in the soil, or hidden in dense vegetation. Incubation usually lasts for about 8 weeks and the young are 12 to 16 cm (4.7 to 6.3 in) long when they hatch.
False smooth snakes are not threatened at present but they suffer from degradation of their habitat and expansion of tourism. In Egypt, these snakes are collected for the international pet trade and their habitat is being lost due to urbanization and expansion of tourism.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the False smooth snake total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, but its numbers today are decreasing.
