Natrix longivertebrata (SciiFii)

The hooded grass snake (Natrix longivertebrata), also known as the European false cobra, is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake that originally lived in Europe during the Pliocene and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and introduced throughout the modern wetlands, forests, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands across mainland Europe to help boost biodiversity. The closest living relative of the hooded grass snake is the common grass snake (Natrix natrix). The hooded grass snake is typically greyish green or brown in colour with a characteristic whitish collar outlined with black lines. The colour may also range from grey to black, with darker colours being more prevalent in colder regions, presumably owing to the thermal benefits of being dark in colour. The underside is whitish with irregular blocks of black, which are useful in recognizing individuals. As its name implies, the hooded grass snake has a hood of skin behind its head, which most likely evolved as a form of mimicry with the deadly European cobra for defense against predators. It can grow to more than 1 meters (3 feet 3 inches) or more in length. Hooded grass snakes mainly prey on amphibians, although they may also occasionally eat ants and insects larvae. Captive snakes have been observed taking earthworms offered by hand, but dead prey items are almost never taken. The snake will search actively for prey, often on the edges of the water, using sight and sense of smell (using Jacobson's organ). They consume prey live without using constriction. After breeding in summer, snakes tend to hunt and may range widely during this time, moving up to several hundred metres in a day. Prey items tend to be large compared to the size of the snake, and this impairs the movement ability of the snake. Snakes that have recently eaten rarely move any significant distance and will stay in one location, basking to optimize their body temperature until the prey item has been digested. Individual snakes may only need two or three significant prey items throughout an entire season. As spring approaches, the males emerge first and spend much of the day basking in an effort to raise body temperature and thereby metabolism. This may be a tactic to maximise sperm production, as the males mate with the females as soon as they emerge up to two weeks later in April, or earlier if environmental temperatures are favourable. The leathery-skinned eggs are laid in batches of eight to 40 in June to July and hatch after about 10 weeks. To survive and hatch, the eggs require a temperature of at least 21 °C (70 °F), but preferably 28 °C (82 °F), with high humidity. Areas of rotting vegetation, such as compost heaps, are preferred locations. The young are about 18 centimetres (7 inches) long when they hatch and are immediately independent. The conservation status of the hooded grass snake is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the hooded grass snake's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii