Western Montpellier Snake

Malpolon monspessulanus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is one of the largest snakes in Europe, with venom-delivering fangs set at the back of the mouth, which makes bites to people extremely rare and of little danger.

Weight

500 g – 2 kg

Size

1.5 m – 2.6 m

Lifespan

18 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

DesertGrasslandCarnivore Diurnal Solitary Reptile Desert Grassland

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Fun facts

It is one of the largest snakes in Europe, reaching 2.55 metres long.
Its venom fangs sit at the back of the mouth (opisthoglyphous).
A 39-year study documented a fall in its maximum body size linked to climate warming.
anatomíaIts venom fangs sit at the back of the jaw, so it has to bite deeply to deliver venom effectively.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Mediterranean scrub, rocky ground and farmland of the Iberian Peninsula, southern France and North Africa
Birth weight: Exact weight at hatching not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: Precocial, 20-36 cm long on hatching
Sexual maturity: 3-5 years
Gestation / incubation: ~2 months after laying
Litter / clutch size: 4 to 20 eggs per clutch (most commonly 10-18)

Sources consulted: Wildside Holidays; Animalia.bio; Moroccoherps.com; PMC (body size shrinkage climate study); Wikipedia (Malpolon monspessulanus); Potamos Guest House; iNaturalist