The
grass snake (
Natrix natrix) is a Eurasian non-venomous
colubrid snake that grows to around a metre (3 ft) in length. It is often found near water and feeds almost exclusively on
amphibians. Its prey, often
common frogs or
toads, is caught and swallowed whole. While digesting a large meal, the snake does not travel far, preferring to bask in the sun. Two or three significant food items may supply an individual's needs for the whole season, with the snake finding an underground refuge, not subject to freezing, in which to overwinter. This grass snake was photographed near
Storkow in
Brandenburg, Germany.
Photograph credit: Andreas Eichler