IDENTIFICATION  

The false smooth snake is smaller than the other snakes living in the province. It is no longer than 60 cm and it is usually shorter. It has a thin body, with a very flat head and a slightly marked neck. Its nose stands out and has a straight end, the eyes are small with rounded pupils and a necklace shaped spot (almost always with a closed shape, called a "cowl") that is very dark on the upper part of the neck. Between the eyes, it has a symmetrical spot with a changing shape. Under the eyes, another spot appears, like a tear. The tail is short and the body’s scales are smooth and shiny. The colour pattern, actually not very striking, is formed by dark spotted lines all over the body, sometimes bigger on the vertebral area. The colour background can vary: grey, brownish or white coffee colour. The stomach is yellowish-whitish, with a peculiar dark spot alternating pattern. It is an opysthoglyphous type. This means that its teeth can inoculate venom but they stand at the back of the jaw. It releases venom when swallowing its prey, not at the moment it bites them. It is not dangerous to humans.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE (HABITAT)? 

Although it prefers warm and very humid places, it can be found in nearly every type of habitat. It can be seen in pastures, deep valleys and riversides, forest perimeters, etc...

HOW DOES IT LIVE?

It is a terrestrial species, prepared for subterranean life. It is very discreet. It is usually active at dusk and night. It mainly eats small reptiles (lizards and sand shinks) searching for them under rocks, tree-trunks, or tunnels due to its size (a small and cylindrical body and a depressed head). It is harmless to humans, although some specimens can bite and release a malodorous secretion by the cloaca.

HOW DOES IT REPRODUCE ITSELF?

The mating season lasts from March to May. It lays 3 to 5 eggs in sunny and humid places: under rocks, trunks or tunnels. The eggs are laid from June to July. The offspring is born 50 to 60 days later, in August or September. The newborns are about 12 cm long.

WHERE CAN WE FIND IT IN MALAGA AND ON THE STAGES OF THE LARGE PATH?

This species lives all over the Málaga province, especially in the western part and in the Central Calcareous Arc. It is a common type, although it is hard to detect, because of its small size and its discreet and subterranean way of life. It can be found mainly all over the Great Path (Gran Senda), although it is more common on stages 10 to 12 and 23 to 29.

LEVEL OF PROTECTION - THREATENED (INVENTORY)

This snake is part of the Andalusian Wildlife Species under Special Protection List. Although it does not seem to be threatened nor to have important conservation problems, it might be affected by its habitat's alteration; this affects its prey’s density and availability.

CURIOUS FACTS  

In the Cortes Mountains (the natural park of the Acorns in Málaga), some specimens can be seen with an entire black head (melanocephaloes). The false smooth snake is harmless to humans, although it has venom glands. Its poison is not really active, moreover, given the size of its mouth and the position of its teeth releasing poison, it is nearly impossible that a human could be affected if bitten. A little reaction could still occur, like a slight swelling of the bitten area.

SIMILAR TYPES (IT CAN ME MISTAKEN WITH...) 

It can be confused with the smooth meridional snake. Both types have many similarities: about 19 or 21 dorsal smooth and shiny scale lines, an alternating pattern on the stomach area and a necklace design behind the head (although every type has its own design). The main difference lies in the spots that both snakes exhibit on the lateral side of their head; both have "tears", but the smooth meridional snake has spots on its nose and between its eyes, whereas the false smooth snake does not.