Both sexes ofC. austriaca grow to an average total length (including tail) of about 60 cm (24 in) to 75 cm (30 in). Two specimens measuring 83 cm (33 in) have been recorded in Sweden, as well as one in Russia that was 92 cm (36 in).[3]
The head has arostral scale that is at least as deep as it is wide, creating a triangular indentation between theinternasal scales (rarely separating them). The top of the head is covered with nine large plates. Thenasal scale is often divided. There is one (rarely two)preoculars and twopostoculars. Thetemporals number 2+2 or 2+3 (rarely 1+2) . There are seven (rarely eight)upper labials, of which the third and fourth or fourth and fifth border the eye.[3]
In the middle part of the body there are 19 (rarely 17 or 21) rows ofdorsal scales. In contrast with many other snakes found in the region, these scales are flat (not keeled). This gives the snake a smooth texture to the touch, from which it gets its common name. Theventral scales number 150-164 in males and 162–200 in females. Theanal scale is divided (rarely single) and thesubcaudal scales are paired. Males have 54–70 subcaudal scales and females 40–76.[3]
The colour pattern consists of a brown, grey or reddish ground colour[4] with two rows of small, rather indistinct dark spots running down the back towards the tail. In some cases, each pair of spots may be united toward the neck area, forming a series of cross-bars over the back. There is also a very indistinct series of dark spots running along each of the flanks. These four series of spots along the body overlay four parallel, rather shadowy stripes that also run down the back and flanks.[3]
On the top of the head is a dark marking which is often in the shape of a crown, giving rise to thegeneric nameCoronella (which meanscoronet). A relatively thick dark stripe extends from each nostril, through the eye, and along the side of the head to a little beyond the neck. The upper labials are whitish, greyish-white or light brown, sometimes with darker spots. The tongue is reddish brown or dark red.[3]
The smooth snake feeds on smaller animals, especially other reptiles. It subdues larger prey by constriction, although unlike trueconstrictors it does not kill by this method.[5] Smooth snakes areovoviviparous: the juveniles hatch out of eggs internally and are born live.[6]
Coronella austriaca is found from thesouth of England through France and theLow Countries to northern Spain and Portugal, Germany, Norway and Sweden (as far north as latitude 63°), Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Switzerland, Austria, Italy andSicily (but not inCorsica orSardinia), the westernBalkans and Greece, andEuropean Russia as far north as latitude 57°. In Asia, it is found from Turkey toAzerbaijan,Georgia,Armenia and northern Iran.[4] It is absent in Denmark despite the species being found just south of the German border as well as in southern Sweden. The species is only known from Denmark from 6 specimens, all found between 1870 and 1914.[7]
In Finland, the species is found only inÅland, and it is not common there.[citation needed]
^abcdefStreet D (1979).The Reptiles of Northern and Central Europe. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. 268 pp.ISBN0-7134-1374-3.
^abSteward JW (1971).The Snakes of Europe. Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Press (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press). 238 pp. LCCCN 77-163307.ISBN0-8386-1023-4.
^Völkl W, Käsewieter D (2003).Die Schlingnatter ein heimlicher Jäger. – Beiheft der Zeitschrift für Feldherpetologie 6. Bielefeld: Laurenti-Verlag. p. 151.ISBN978-3-933066-15-2. (in German).
^Hvass, Hans, ed. (1970).Danmarks Dyreverden. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde og Bagger.
Arnold EN, Burton JA (1978).A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. (With 351 illustrations, 257 in colour byD.W. Ovenden). London: Collins. 272 pp. + Plates 1-40.ISBN0-00-219318-3. (Coronella austriaca, pp. 204–205 + Plate 38, figure 1 + Map 117).
Boulenger GA (1894).Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (Coronella austriaca, pp. 191–193).
Laurenti JN (1768).Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum. Vienna: "Joan. Thom. Nob. de Trattnern". 214 pp. + Plates I-V. (Coronella austriaca, new species, p. 84 + Plate V, figure 1). (in Latin).
Malkmus R (1995). "Coronella austriaca acutirostrissubspec. nov. aus dem Nordwesten der Iberischen Halbinsel (Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae) ".Zoologische Abhandlungen, Museum für Tierkunde Dresden48 (3): 265-278. (Coronella austriaca acutirostris, new subspecies). (in German).
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