List of snake species in Albania

This is the list of snake species that can be found in Albania.

List of snake species in Albania [1][2]
Snake species Albanian name[1] Family Occurrence Notes
European horned viper

(Vipera ammodytes)

Nepërka Viperidae Commonly found from the sea coast to the mountains (up to 1800 m above sea level) [3] Most venomous snake in Europe
Balkan whip snake

(Hierophis gemonensis)

Shigjeta e shkurtër Colubridae Commonly found throughout the entirety of Albania, up to 1100 m above sea level[3]
Grass snake (Natrix natrix) Gjarpri i madh i ujit Commonly found throughout the entirety of Albania
Dice snake (Natrix tessellata) Gjarpri i vogël i shiut Commonly found throughout the entirety of Albania, in freshwater and brackish water habitats[3]
Dahl's whip snake (Coluber najadum) Shigjeta i hollë Found in west & southwestern Albania
Eastern Montpellier snake (Malpolon insignitus) Biroja Psammophiidae Commonly found alongside the coast of Albania, in the river valleys up to the mountains[3]
Caspian whipsnake (Dolichophis caspius) Shigjeta e gjatë Colubridae Commonly found throughout the entirety of Albania excluding the north, up to 1500 m above sea level
European ratsnake (Zamenis situla) Bolla laramane Rarely found, only in western Albania
Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus) Bolla e shtëpisë Commonly found throughout the entirety of Albania, from the coast to the mountains[3]
Four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlinea) Bolla me katër vija Mostly found in the west, rarely in the mountains[3] One of the longest Snakes in Europe
European adder (Vipera berus) Nepërka me lara e malit Viperidae Only found in the Northern Albanian Alps
Meadow viper (Vipera ursinii) Nepërka e vogël e malit Only found in the Northern Albanian Alps and Korab Mountains[3]
Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) Gjarpri i zi Colubridae Only found in the Northern Albanian Alps and Korab Mountains
European cat snake (Telescopus fallax) Gjarpri laraman Found in Western Albania
Greek Meadow Viper (Vipera graeca) ? Viperidae Found near Himarë to the north of Berat and into Greece. Endangered. Endangered[4]
Javelin sand boa (Eryx jaculus) Boa e rërës Boidae Rarely found, only in the south near Sarandë[3]
European blind snake (Xerotyphlops vermicularis) Gjarpri i verbër krymbor Typhlopidae Commonly found in hilly country and plains[3]

Sources

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  1. ^ a b "Schlangen in Albanien" (in German).
  2. ^ "Snakes of Albania – Herpetofauna Albanian Society". Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Idriz Haxhiu (1989): The Reptilia of Albania: Species composition, Distribution, Habitats. Bonner zoologische Beiträge 48 (1): 35–57.
  4. ^ "Vipera graeca (Greek Meadow Viper)".