How to Identify Portuguese Snakes

Many Portuguese snakes are dangerous. The country is full of slithering reptiles and keeping away from their natural environment is critical if you want to avoid unwanted encounters. Stay focused and aware when traveling outside on the streets and surrounding areas in Portugal. Keep in mind that snakes covet shady and dry areas during warm months, although morning hours -- and other cool times of the day -- can entice snakes to sunbathe on tops of rocks or other open areas.

Things You'll Need

  • Magnifying glass
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Instructions

    • 1

      Identify the Montpellier Snake in dry areas near piles of stones or rocks. Notice the thin, distinct ridges above the eyes and its extensive body length, often measuring 3 to 6 feet. Note the blue and brown tints on the backside of its skin and its white underside.

    • 2

      Pick out a Ladder Snake by the identifying marks on the backside of its scales. It has no fangs. Notice a "ladder" pattern on young snakes that runs along the length of its body. Mature Ladder Snakes have just two black, distinct "ladder rails" along their backs because the "ladder crossbars," apparent in the young snakes, fade with age. Ladder snakes reach up to 3 feet in length.

    • 3

      Identify a Lataste's Viper by the upward, buckled tip of its nose and dark gray scales. Look for a radically angled dorsal stripe and an irritable demeanor. The Lataste's Vipers reach just a relatively short 2 feet in length.

    • 4

      Pick out a Horseshoe Whip by its length -- up to 4 1/2 feet -- and the bulbous brown and black spots located all over the back of its body. It has no fangs and faint shades of peach, yellow or red on its underside. Be careful walking around the shady perimeters of buildings on summer evenings; these are common hangouts for Horseshoe Whips.