The snakes are believed to bring good fortune and non-appearing is perceived as a bad omen. Hierophis gemonensis or Coluber gemonensis) is a medium sized snake, which is commonly met in the island of Crete. It can reach a length of 1m, but is usually much shorter. If caught it is very likely to bite, but still it is harmless. If picked up, this snake will rarely bite, but it can and does emit a strong-smelling fluid and make a whistling sound in an attempt to put its tormentor off. There are a few kinds of snakes here(6?) Since then, every year between 6-16 August, small snakes with a small cross on their head appear in the rocks of the belfry. Conservation status - IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Family: Lacertidae (Wall or true lizards), "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_reptiles_and_amphibians_in_the_Aegean&oldid=965148731, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with empty sections from March 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 29 June 2020, at 17:56. The Greek name is spitofido, i.e. house snake, originates from Cyclades Islands, where people deliberately brought leopard snakes in their cellars and storage areas, so as to control mouse populations. Source:  https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/fauna-and-animal-species/reptiles/snakes. It mates in the spring and females lay 5-25 eggs in the summer.

It also pretends being dead by turning upside down, with open mouth and its tongue out. The snakes someone might meet in Crete is the Balkan whip snake, the dice snake, the cat snake and the leopard snake. When hanging it stands still and it is very difficult for someone to distinguish the snake from the branches. However, the poison is too weak to hurt humans and is excreted in the back of its mouth, making it actually harmless. It hunts mostly on the ground but climbs very skillfully on bushes and low trees. In fact its Greek name dendrogalia, meaning treecat, is taken after its cat-like climbing on trees. They are generally afraid of man. Natrix tessellata) is a kind of water snake, which occurs frequently in the permanent wetlands, the sea shores and rock pools of Crete. It does not include species found only in captivity or those which are extinct. Many Cretans call it as water snake, but this name actually belongs to the relative species of Natrix natrix, which is absent from the island. They mate on late spring and females lay 2-8 eggs.

Dice snake The Balkan whip snake (scient. Whip snakes are diurnal and usually like sunning during the day. This is one of the longest snakes in Greece -- but Zamenis longissimus and Dolichophis caspius can grow longer.

Zodiac Signs: their strengths and weaknesses. According to the tradition, when the nuns were once threatened by the Turks, they prayed to Virgin Mary.

This viper is a common viper snake and is not an endangered species. Elaphe situla or Zamenis situla) is the most beautiful species of snake in Greece, with characteristic orange-red markings on its back.

This false impression has been caused by a V sign on its head, which is similar to that of vipers.

This false impression has been caused by a V sign on its head, which is similar to that of vipers. The Ohia snake is also referred to as the Adder snake and is classed as a venomous viper. It is non-venomous and usually reaches 80cm in length.

The cat snakes in Kefalonia island (in Ionian Sea) are called holy snakes, as they are linked to a religious tradition dating back in ancient times. The cat snake (scient.

Snakes were also used for treating diseases, from where the symbol of Asclepius comes, preserved in medicine even today.

Finally there is the suspicion that the dice snake of Crete belongs to a separate species, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet. This beautiful ancient tale explains why Crete has no harmful animal species (and venomous snakes). Each species is listed, with its binomial name and notes on its distribution where this is limited. The Balkan whip snake is a medium sized snake, which is commonly met in the island of Crete. It preys mainly on other reptiles, large insects, small mammals and, occasionally, young birds. However, snakes are widely falsely thought as the evil-doers, with the dark intent on poisoning us with their painful venom.

It is characteristic that the snakes did not appear in 1940 and 1953, the years of the Second World War (in Greece) and the catastrophic earthquake in Kefalonia, respectivelly.

It feeds on rodents, lizards and sometimes young birds, ambushing among rocks and over bushes. Premium Joomla Templates • FREE High-quality Joomla! It usually lives in rocky areas near sea level, as it prefers warm places, but has also been observed at altitudes up to 1400m.

Technology Addiction To Teens: What Is Tech Addiction? This false impression has been caused by a V sign on its head, which is similar to that of vipers.

In Crete it is called ochentri, which means viper, which is incorrect as the snake is completely harmless.

The wonder takes place every year at the church of Virgin Mary in Lagouvardo, known also as Virgin Mary of Snakes. The dice snake (scient. - Ottoman viper or Turkish Viper, Rock Viper, Coastal Viper, Near East Viper, Mountain Viper (Vipera xanthina) The Ottoman Viper is a widely distributed species which occurs in northeastern Greece and European Turkey, as well as in some Aegean Sea islands (Simi, Kos, Kalimnos, Leros, Lipsos, Patmos, Samos, Chios and Lesbos). The snake feeds on small lizards and uses the poison for relaxing their bodies.

This is a list of European reptiles. It can reach a length of 1m, but is usually much shorter. Growing to between 2 - 3 feet ( 60 - 90 cm ) long, this snake was responsible for a five year old boys death in Britain in 1985 and a woman in Germany in 2004. This list includes all reptiles currently found in Aegean Islands. mostly small(1 meter or less) vipers with weak poison and a bigger green snake which I think it has no poison, at least none that affects humans. Viper, (family Viperidae), any of more than 200 species of venomous snakes belonging to two groups: pit vipers (subfamily Crotalinae) and Old World vipers (subfamily Viperinae), which are considered separate families by some authorities.

Many Cretans call it as water snake, but this name actually belongs to the relative species of Natrix natrix, which is absent from the island. Finally there is the suspicion that the dice snake of Crete belongs to a separate species, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet. In Crete, snakes appear to have played an important ritual role in the Minoan period. It includes all reptiles currently found in Europe. Telescopus fallax) is the only snake in Crete with venom. In Greece there are 23 different types of snakes, only a small number of which are venomous. Ηλεκτρονικά Σχολικά Περιοδικά & Εφημερίδες.

Each species is listed, with its binomial name and notes on its distribution where this is limited. Also this list is incomplete. Summary of 2006 IUCN Red List categories. Then, snakes appeared miraculously everywhere and surrounded the monastery, scaring Turks off. Thus, he cleared the island from all hazardous animals. Designs. Elaphe situla or Zamenis situla) is the most beautiful species of snake in Greece, with characteristic orange-red markings on its back. The leopard snake (scient. By PELINA ANASTASOPOULOU & VIRGINIA KOSTI.

It reaches up to 1.2m in length and prefers places up to 1600m altitude. It is characteristic that the snakes did not appear in 1940 and 1953, the years of the Second World War (in Greece) and the catastrophic earthquake in Kefalonia, respectivelly. Among them, only the cat snake has venom, but it is very weak and actually harmless. The snakes are believed to bring good fortune and non-appearing is perceived as a bad omen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_reptiles_and_amphibians_in_the_Aegean It is completely harmless for humans, as it’s non-venomous. When caught and feared, it may bite fiercely, but cannot cause any trouble.

The leopard snake is the most beautiful species of snake in Greece, with characteristic orange-red markings on its back. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. It does not include species found only in captivity or extinct in Europe, except where there is some doubt about this, nor (with few exceptions) does it currently include species introduced in recent decades. In Crete it is called ochentri, which means viper, which is incorrect as the snake is completely harmless. Indeed, one of the most famous archaeological findings listed in Heraklion Museum is the statuette of the goddess of fertility, known as the Goddess of Snakes, who holds two snakes with both of her hands. They eat small animals and hunt by striking and envenomating their prey. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. This is the only venomous snake in Greece. The venomous snakes include: Montivipera xanthina - This snake is found in eastern Thrace and the eastern islands of the Aegean. Moreover, when Hercules arrived in Crete for the labor with the Bull of Crete, he wanted to pay honors to the birthplace of Zeus (ie Crete). The dice snake is a kind of water snake, which occurs frequently in the permanent wetlands, the sea shores and rock pools of Crete. In Crete it is called ochentri, which means viper, which is incorrect as the snake is completely harmless.