Snakes
New study: how accurately do we know where Georgia's snakes occur?
A new Ecology and Evolution study shows how incomplete records can change estimates of the Area of Occupancy for snakes in Georgia.
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The grass snake (Natrix natrix) is a non-venomous snake that can be found both in water and on land. Its easiest feature to notice is a yellow, white or cream-colored “collar” behind the head, though in dark snakes it may be faint. In western Georgia it is often confused with the Caucasian viper, and near water with the dice snake (Natrix tessellata). Its presence in Georgia is confirmed in the 2026 checklist. This page lists only the regions where records confirm its presence: Abkhazia, Samegrelo — Zemo Svaneti, Guria, Adjara, Imereti, Samtskhe — Javakheti, Mtskheta — Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti and Tbilisi. A single record is enough for a region to be included in this list. Grass snakes living in Georgia belong to one group of this species, Natrix natrix scutata. The striped form, formerly called N. n. persa, is now included in the same group. The “large-headed grass snake” (Natrix megalocephala), once considered a separate species, is no longer treated as a separate species today. The grass snake is considered to have a low risk of extinction, and it is not included in Georgia’s 2014 Red List.
Identification
How to identify Grass snake
This is a non-venomous snake that spends time both in water and on land. It is easiest to recognize by the yellow or light-colored “collar” behind its head and its round pupils. In western Georgia, it may be confused with the Caucasian viper, and near water with the dice snake.
Often confused with
Behind the head, it often has a yellow, white, or cream-colored “collar”: two pale spots shaped like half-moons. A dark area follows behind these spots. This is one of the easiest ways to recognize the common grass snake. In very dark grass snakes, the “collar” may be faint or may not be visible at all.
The back may be greenish, gray, or brownish. The scales on the back have a small raised line down the middle. In Colchis, very dark, almost black grass snakes are also found. Some have two light stripes running lengthwise along the back. These were once known as “persa”; they have also been seen around Paliastomi. The pupil is round.
In Georgia, the grass snake is a medium-sized snake. It is usually about 70–120 cm long. Females are larger than males. In other parts of Europe, grass snakes longer than 1.5 meters are rarely found, but in Georgia this length is not usual for this snake. Its head stands out only slightly from the body and does not have the broad, sharply triangular shape typical of vipers.
The dice snake (Natrix tessellata) does not have a light-colored “collar” behind its head. It often has spots on its back arranged like a chessboard. It is more often found in open water or near water and feeds mainly on fish. The grass snake more often hunts frogs and other similar animals that live both in water and on land. It is also found in damp, shady places. In Georgia, the dice snake may be easier to notice in semi-dry areas.
The Caucasian viper is venomous. Its body is shorter and thicker, and its pupil is elongated from top to bottom. It does not have the pale mark near the neck, like a collar, that is typical of the grass snake. Young Aesculapian snakes may have pale spots near the neck, but they show a dark stripe running back from the eye and dark markings on the head. The smooth snake has smooth scales and no such mark near the neck. The sheltopusik is not a snake: it has movable eyelids and ear openings. Do not pick up an unknown snake.
This page lists only the regions where the records table confirms the presence of this species: Abkhazia, Samegrelo — Zemo Svaneti, Guria, Adjara, Imereti, Samtskhe — Javakheti, Mtskheta — Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, and Tbilisi. A region is included in the list even if there is only one record of this species. It most often chooses marshes, riverside floodplains, lakes, streams, damp forests, and meadows near rivers. In the 2026 list, a specific record from eastern Georgia refers to the village of Tushurebi in Tianeti Municipality, Mtskheta — Mtianeti. Compared with the water snake, it more often chooses cool, shady places. In Colchic forest, it has also been seen climbing trees, including to warm itself in the sun and to hunt tree frogs. It may also be found in gardens, parks, and farmland if there are enough animals that live both in water and on land, as well as damp hiding places.
Distribution
Where grass snake distribution is confirmed in Georgia
133 field records2012–202610 regions
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- Field observation
- Several records in one spot
- Photo record
- Confirmed distribution region
The grass snake map combines Reptiles.ge editorial photo records with public iNaturalist observations. Regions are taken from the records-by-region table; for this species, a region with at least one record is treated as confirmed distribution.
Data: Reptiles.ge + iNaturalist · Methodology
Biology
Diet, behavior, and conservation
Diet
It mainly eats frogs and toads. It also catches fish, but depends on fish less than the water snake does. It does not strangle the animal it catches; it swallows it alive. It hunts both in water and on land. When looking for toads, it sometimes goes quite far from water.
Behavior
It is active in the warm season and moves mostly during the day. In very hot weather, it may also move in the evening or at night. In the western lowlands, it stays active longer than in high mountains. In general, this species mates in spring. In summer, the female usually lays about 8–40 eggs in a warm, moist place, such as rotting plants or compost. The young hatch in late summer or early autumn. When threatened, it may release a strong-smelling liquid from the opening under the tail, flatten its head, or pretend to be dead. It does not chase people and usually avoids them. Do not pick it up.
Conservation
The grass snake is assessed as being at low risk of extinction. It is not included in Georgia's 2014 Red List. This snake is also included in Appendix III of the Bern Convention. In some places, it may be threatened by the loss of marshes and other damp areas, water pollution, deaths on roads, and being mistaken for a venomous snake and killed. In the humid west, it is common in some areas.
No. The common grass snake is not venomous and is not dangerous to humans. When threatened, it may release a strong-smelling liquid, flatten its head, or pretend to be dead. Do not pick it up, especially in western Georgia, because from a distance it can be confused with the Caucasian viper.
The grass snake often has a light-colored “collar” behind its head. It is more often found in damp, shady places and mainly feeds on animals that live both in water and on land. The dice snake does not have this kind of “collar.” It often has spots on its back that look like a chessboard pattern. It is more often in or near water and mainly feeds on fish.
Check whether it has a yellow, white, or cream-colored “collar” behind the head, a round pupil, and a relatively slender body. In Colchis, the common grass snake can be very dark, even almost black. The Caucasian viper does not have this kind of “collar.” Its body is shorter and thicker, and its pupil is elongated from top to bottom. When identifying an unknown snake, do not rely on just one feature.
Yes. The common grass snake occurs in Georgia. In the 2026 Georgian list, this species is recorded in Abkhazia, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Guria, Adjara, Imereti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti and Tbilisi.
This species has been recorded in Abkhazia, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Guria, Adjara, Imereti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, and Tbilisi. It may be seen near marshes, lakes, streams, rivers, and in damp forests.
It mostly eats frogs and toads. It also catches fish, but less often than the water snake. It swallows its prey alive.
In general, this species mates in spring. In summer, the female usually lays about 8–40 eggs in a warm, damp place. The young hatch from the eggs in late summer or early autumn.
If you find a snake in your yard, keep your distance and do not pick it up. The common grass snake is non-venomous and is not dangerous to people. If you do not know what kind of snake it is, do not go near it; calmly let it move away on its own.
References
Sources
References
Sources
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 — Annotated checklist of Georgia's amphibians and reptiles
- Iankoshvili & Tarkhnishvili 2021 — Distribution of snakes in Georgia
- Kindler et al. 2013 — Phylogeography and taxonomy of grass snakes
- Kindler et al. 2017 — Hybridization patterns in two contact zones of grass snakes reveal a new Central European snake species
- Denk, Frotzler & Davitashvili 2001 — Relict taxa in humid forests and wetlands of Georgia
- IUCN Red List
- საქართველოს მთავრობის დადგენილება №190 (2014) — წითელი ნუსხა
- The Reptile Database
- GBIF
- Council of Europe 2006 — Action Plan for the Conservation of the Aesculapian Snake
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
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