2012Fauna - Grass Snake - Set

Bosnia and Herzegovina is rich with snakes. Although unpopular, snakes are very useful animals and by killing them an important link in ecological chain is stopped.
The Grass snake (Natrix natrix) is non-venomous snake of the Colubridea family. It appears in more colors and shades. The only sure signs of recognition are bimonthly spots on the back of the head on both sides, which are white in females and yellow in males.
The Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus) has a long slender body and narrow head. The dorsal is monochrome gray to dark gray, gray – greenish or brownish. The underside of the body is whitish. It has a mild nature, is non-venomous but often bites if they feel threatened.
Horned Viper (Vipera ammodytes) is the most venomous and the most dangerous European snake of the Viperidea family. The body of the Viper is color changeable, dorsal side is gray, yellow or brown with dark zigzag stripes, while the ventral side is whitish with black spots. With a fractured stripe on the back, it is recognized by the triangular flat head, vertical pupil and hors on top of its nose. In mouth has two poisonous teeth associated with the venom glands. The tongue is long and forked.
Common viper (Vipera berus) is a venomous snake of the Viperdea family and is widespread in Europe. It has a large head, narrow neck and thick body which is smaller and sleeker than horned viper, with bias dotted stripe that serves to conceal. The tongue is long and forked, the poisonous teeth lies folded in the jaw and knocked loose forward when it attacks.