Region
Adjara is one of western Georgia’s most humid regions. Humid subtropical forests, mountain valleys, and the Black Sea coast create varied environments for reptiles. The region has Caucasus viper, grass snake and dice snake, smooth snake, and other species.
The atlas has 47 species profiles for Adjara: 14 birds, 9 amphibians, 7 snakes, 6 lizards, 4 mammals, 2 turtles, 2 scorpions, 2 insects, and 1 spider. Reptiles make up 15 of them, amphibians 9. The region’s main habitats: Humid subtropical forests; Mountain valleys; Black Sea coast.
2 listed species have a high or moderate risk level for people: Caucasus viper (Vipera kaznakovi) and Nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes). Keep your distance from any unidentified snake, never try to catch or handle it, and call 112 after a bite.
A species is listed only when it has an atlas profile and a confirmed record names this administrative unit. This is not the full fauna of Adjara, so an animal missing here may still live in the region. Related region pages: Guria, Samtskhe — Javakheti, and Samegrelo — Zemo Svaneti.
Snakes recorded in Adjara in this atlas: Caucasus viper (Vipera kaznakovi), nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes transcaucasiana), dice snake, grass snake, smooth snake, Aesculapian snake and Dahl’s whip snake. In the mountainous part of the Lesser Caucasus, including toward Shuakhevi, nose-horned viper is also recorded. The list is based on regional records and may be updated when new confirmed data are added.
Yes. Caucasus viper (Vipera kaznakovi) is venomous. Nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes transcaucasiana) is also recorded in mountainous Adjara. The other species listed here do not pose a venomous danger to people. Still keep a safe distance from any unknown snake.
Caucasus viper is mainly tied to humid forests and foothill habitats. Regional records are known from different places; see the full species profile for distribution and identification details.
Reptile activity mainly increases from spring through autumn. In winter many species are less active and spend much of their time in shelter.
News
Birds
Batumi Raptor Count closed its autumn 2026 count on 21 October. The last day brought the season’s second Rough-legged Buzzard, three Wallcreepers and a basking Caucasus viper.
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A paper in ZooKeys sets up a new genus, Caucasirella, for small amphipods of the western Caucasus and describes three new species from Russia’s Black Sea coast. There are still no records of this group from central Georgia.
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Birds
According to an AFP report, more than a million raptors have passed through the Batumi corridor this autumn. In the first month of the season, 39 hunting violations were recorded in the region.
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Birds
Batumi Raptor Count has counted 54 Crested Honey Buzzards this autumn — almost twice its average of 28. Batumi is the only place in the Western Palearctic where this Asian raptor is reliably seen on migration.
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Birds
A short Fauna & Flora documentary follows the people working to end raptor poaching in the Batumi bottleneck. It is available in English and Georgian.
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Birds
After a week of cold rain, the Batumi bottleneck had its second-biggest day on record. Black Kites and large eagles set new records.
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According to Guchmanidze’s 17-year record, this is the highest figure of the past decade. The agency has not named a cause for the strandings at this stage.
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Birds
After rain and fog, the Batumi bottleneck recorded the season’s first 10,000-plus day. Nearly 19,300 birds were counted in total.
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