Common name: Eurasian viper

Scientific name: Vipera aspis 

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Family: Viperidae

Nutrition:  piccoli uccelli, topi, lucertole.

Features: It has a triangular-shaped head and a short, squat tail. Like all reptiles, it must expose itself to sunlight to raise its body temperature. 

When temperatures fall below 4 °C, it ceases all activity and takes refuge inside a cavity or crevice in the ground to protect itself from frost and rain

Curiosity: The term asp is referred to the name of the species.

Common name: Grass snake

Scientific name: Natrix natrix 

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Family: Natricidae

Nutrition:  anfibi e loro larve.

Features: It is a non-poisonous water snake and it lives near rivers and streams. Grey in colour it has transverse black bands on its flanks, its belly is pale with dark spots. It can be mistaken for a viper, from which it differs by its rounded head and pupils and by the yellow and black pattern on its neck, from which the species derives its common name ‘collared snake’. It leads a predominantly diurnal life. 

Curiosity: When grasped, it emits a foul-smelling secretion.

Common name: Bat

Scientific name: Chiroptera 

Class: Mammalia

Order: Chiroptera

Family: Chiroptera

Nutrition:  Insects.

Features: In winter, they spend longer or shorter periods in hibernation during which all body activities such as breathing rate and heartbeat slow down, allowing little energy to be consumed. Survival is possible thanks to the body fat reserves accumulated during the warm season. They orient themselves in the dark by means of a sophisticated sonar: they emit ultrasounds, which bounce off surrounding objects and return to the animal that produced them in the form of an echo.

Curiosity: Bats are the second largest group of mammals after rodents.

Common name: Green whip snake

Scientific name: Hierophis viridiflavus 

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Family: Colubridae

Nutrition:  Other reptiles, bird eggs, small mammals (especially mice and rats) and amphibians.

Features: It is a diurnal and mainly terrestrial species that moves quickly (up to 11 km/h) on the ground. In case of need it is a skilful climber and swimmer. It is the most common snake in Italy. it has a black livery with yellow spots that becomes paler on the belly.

Curiosity: The italian name ‘biacco’ is said to derive from white lead (biacca), a basic lead carbonate that was used in Venetian and Dutch workshops in ancient times.

Common name: Four-lined snake

Scientific name: Elaphe quatuorlineata 

Class: Sauropsida

Order: Squamata

Family: Colubridae

Nutrition:  Small mammals, eggs, lizards.

Features: Adult length may vary from 110 cm to 180 cm. It is yellowish-brown in colour with four dark longitudinal bars (from which it derives its scientific name). It is diurnal, terrestrial, can sometimes be found on shrubs; is also a good swimmer. It prefers Mediterranean maquis, sparse and sunny woods. It is an oviparous species and lays eggs. It likes warm (24-34 °C) and humid environments.

Curiosity: It is the longest snake in Italy and one of the longest in Europe.