List of snake species in Albania

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

List of snake species in Albania [1] [2]
Snake speciesAlbanian name [1] FamilyOccurrenceNotes
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 ujitCommonly found throughout the entirety of Albania
Dice snake (Natrix tessellata)Gjarpri i vogël i shiutCommonly found throughout the entirety of Albania, in freshwater and brackish water habitats [3]
Dahl's whip snake (Coluber najadum)Shigjeta i hollëFound 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 laramaneRarely found, only in western Albania
Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus)Bolla e shtëpisëCommonly found throughout the entirety of Albania, from the coast to the mountains [3]
Four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlinea)Bolla me katër vijaMostly 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 malitOnly 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 laramanFound 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

  1. 1 2 "Schlangen in Albanien" (in German).
  2. "Snakes of Albania – Herpetofauna Albanian Society" . Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Idriz Haxhiu (1989): The Reptilia of Albania: Species composition, Distribution, Habitats. Bonner zoologische Beiträge 48 (1): 35–57.
  4. "Vipera graeca (Greek Meadow Viper)".