The barred grass snake

New snake in Salzburg: Reports welcome!

This is what the barred grass snake newly discovered in Salzburg looks like. Its head is different from that of the common grass snake

(Bild: Salinger)

Now it is also found in the province of Salzburg. The fifth snake species in this country is called the barred grass snake. Researchers from the Salzburg House of Nature are asking the public for their cooperation. Sightings can be reported by cell phone.

The difference can be seen on the head. The new species of grass snake recently discovered in Salzburg, the barred grass snake, also has bright spots on the back of its head. However, they are less pronounced. Anyone who thinks they see such a snake in the wild can help the researchers from the Salzburg House of Nature.

The light spots on the back of the head of the grass snake (pictured) are more pronounced.

(Bild: Peter Kaufmann)

"We are happy to receive photographic reports, preferably via the ObsIdentify mobile app," says Peter Kaufmann. The snake expert worked in a working group with the help of volunteers to track down the fifth snake species in Salzburg.

In the course of a cross-state analysis, it was determined that two snakes found in Wasenmoos in Oberpinzgau are barred ringed snakes. Further investigations are to clarify how the grass snake and the barred grass snake spread in the Alpine region after the last ice age.