Viperine Snake
Viperine SnakeViperine SnakeViperine SnakeViperine Snake

Viperine Snake

Natrix maura

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Doñana National Park
24 Verified records at Doñana National Park
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The viperine water snake or viperine snake (Natrix maura) is a semiaquatic, fish-eating natricine water snake. Despite its common names, it is not a member of the subfamily Viperinae. It was given its common names due to exhibiting a dorsal colour pattern that superficially resembles that of sympatric adder species. In comparison to other Natrix species its head is also somewhat wider and more distinct from the neck. Like most members of the Natricinae it possesses a venom gland on each side of the upper jaw (Duvernoy's gland) that produces a mild venom that may play a role in swallowing or digestion. The gland is not associated with an enlarged specialized tooth and the venom has to be applied by chewing. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Viperine Snake sighting in Doñana National Park, based on 24 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Doñana National Park

Ladder Snake
LC

Ladder Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Zamenis scalaris

Insufficient data
Horseshoe Whip Snake
LC

Horseshoe Whip Snake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Hemorrhois hippocrepis

Insufficient data
Iberian False Smooth Snake
LC

Iberian False Smooth Snake

Reptile

Macroprotodon brevis

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
30–40
Mar
30–40
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
5–10
Jul
5–10
Aug
30–40
Sep
10–20
Oct
10–20
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
40–50%
2 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
20–30%
3 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
20–30%
4 Mercantour National Park 🇫🇷 France
10–20%
5 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
10–20%
6 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
10–20%
7 Picos de Europa National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
10–20%
8 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
10–20%
9 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
10–20%
10 Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Viperine Snake in Doñana National Park?

About 22% of wildlife watchers report a Viperine Snake sighting in Doñana National Park, based on 24 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Viperine Snake in Doñana National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Viperine Snake in Doñana National Park in our monthly data.

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