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 dice snake (Natrix tessellata) is a non-venomous snake. It lives both in water and on land and is found especially often near rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other bodies of water. It often has dark, square-shaped spots on its back. It usually does not have the yellow “collar” typical of the grass snake. The 2026 Georgian list confirms that this species occurs in Georgia. On this page, only regions with confirmed records are listed as its distribution areas: Abkhazia, Samegrelo — Zemo Svaneti, Guria, Adjara, Imereti, Samtskhe — Javakheti, Mtskheta — Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti and Tbilisi. There are also records from Shida Kartli and Racha — Lechkhumi — Kvemo Svaneti, but for now these regions are not treated as part of its distribution area. In the semi-dry areas of the east, the dice snake is often easier to notice than the grass snake (Natrix natrix). In damp western areas, the opposite is true in some places. An adult snake is usually about 70–110 cm long, although a large female may be more than 1.2 meters long. This species is assessed as not facing a high level of threat and is not included in Georgia’s Red List.
Identification
How to identify Dice snake
The water snake is a non-venomous snake that lives both in water and on land. It can often be recognized by the dark, square spots on its back, by the fact that it usually does not have a yellow “collar” near the neck, and by often being near water.
Often confused with
Its back is olive, gray, or brownish. It often has dark spots on its back, arranged in squares or like a checkerboard. In some animals these spots are faint, so color alone is not enough to identify it. Usually, it does not have the yellow “collar” behind the head that is typical of the common grass snake.
The head is relatively narrow and elongated, and the pupil is round. A small raised line runs along the middle of the scales on the back. The belly is often yellow or orange, with black spots or dots.
An adult water snake is usually about 70–110 cm long. A large female may be longer than 1.2 meters. Females are often larger than males, and in young water snakes the body pattern may be more clearly visible.
It often swims, or basks in the sun on the shore, on rocks, and on branches hanging over the water. The dice snake is often near water, but you cannot identify it accurately by this sign alone. Also look for the checkerboard-like pattern on its back and the fact that it has no yellow “collar.”
The common grass snake (Natrix natrix) often has a yellow or light-colored “collar” behind its head. The water snake usually does not have this mark. Do not pick up an unknown snake.
Gallery
Dice snake in photos
On this page, the water snake is listed as occurring only in the regions where records confirm that it is found: Abkhazia, Samegrelo — Zemo Svaneti, Guria, Adjara, Imereti, Samtskhe — Javakheti, Mtskheta — Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti and Tbilisi. There are also sighting records from Shida Kartli and Racha — Lechkhumi — Kvemo Svaneti, but here these regions are not listed as places where it occurs. In Georgia, the water snake is usually found near water: by rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, canals and pools. It is often seen on stones, muddy banks or branches hanging over the water. It may also be found on farmland or in other places changed by people, if there is enough water and food nearby. In western Georgia, it also occurs in the Colchis wetlands and around water bodies on the Black Sea coast. It has been seen in Kolkheti National Park, in the Charnali Valley of Adjara, and in Tbilisi, near Lisi Lake. Compared with the common grass snake, the water snake more often chooses open, rocky and semi-dry banks. According to records from Georgia, in western Georgia it is usually found up to about 600 meters above sea level, and in eastern Georgia up to 900 meters. Rarely, it has also been seen at about 1,100 meters.
Distribution
Where dice snake distribution is confirmed in Georgia
195 field records2011–202612 regions
Interactive map is loading.
- Field observation
- Several records in one spot
- Photo record
- Confirmed distribution region
The dice snake map combines Reptiles.ge editorial photo records with public iNaturalist observations. Regions are taken from the records-by-region table, and only regions with confirmed status are treated as distribution.
Data: Reptiles.ge + iNaturalist · Methodology
Biology
Diet, behavior, and conservation
Diet
It mainly feeds on fish, but it also catches animals that live both in water and on land, including frogs and toads. It may also eat very young fish. In the coastal zone of the Caucasus, goby-like fish are an important part of its prey. It swallows prey alive and hunts both in the water and near the shore.
Behavior
It is active in the warm season and mostly moves around during the day. It often swims or warms itself in the sun on the bank, on stones, and on branches hanging over the water. In cold weather, it spends the winter near water, in dry burrows and cracks. The timing of winter rest and activity depends on the local climate and the height of the place. In the areas where it occurs, it usually mates in spring. It lays eggs in summer in warm, damp places, such as soil, rotting plants, or cracks in a stone wall. The young hatch in late summer or early autumn. When threatened, it may release a bad-smelling liquid from the rear of its body or pretend to be dead. It has no venom. If you see one, watch it from a distance and leave it where it is.
Conservation
According to an international assessment, the dice snake currently has a low risk of extinction. It is not included in Georgia’s 2014 Red List. It is listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention. In regions where records confirm its presence, it is sometimes common in suitable wet places. It may be threatened by water pollution, changes to riverbanks and shores, and killing by people, because it is often mistaken for a venomous snake.
No. The water snake is not venomous and is not dangerous to people. If you pick it up, it may release a bad-smelling liquid or lie still as if dead. Do not pick it up: it is better to watch it from a distance and leave it where it is.
The dice snake often has dark marks on its back that look like a chessboard. It is found near water more often than the grass snake. The grass snake often has a yellow or light-colored “collar” behind its head. The grass snake is especially common in the humid west. The dice snake mainly eats fish, while the grass snake more often eats animals that live both in water and on land.
Yes. The water snake has been confirmed in Georgia. It is also listed as a confirmed species in the 2026 Georgian list. It should be considered present only in the region where there are confirmed records of it.
Its distribution has been confirmed in Abkhazia, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Guria, Adjara, Imereti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti and Tbilisi. In Shida Kartli, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, only its presence has been recorded. It is found near rivers, lakes, streams, canals, reservoirs and other watery places.
Look for dark spots on the back, arranged like a chessboard. It does not have a yellow “collar” on the neck; the head is relatively narrow, and the pupils are round. It is often found in water or near the shore. Vipers have a thicker body and vertical pupils. However, when identifying an unknown snake, do not rely on just one sign.
An adult water snake is usually about 70–110 cm long. A large female may be more than 1.2 meters long.
It mainly eats fish. It also catches frogs and toads; it may also eat young small fish. It swallows its prey alive.
Watch it from a distance and leave it where it is. The dice snake is not venomous, so there is no need to catch or kill it. If you do not know what kind of snake it is, do not go near it, even to look at its pupil or head shape.
References
Sources
References
Sources
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 — Annotated checklist of Georgia's amphibians and reptiles
- Iankoshvili & Tarkhnishvili 2021 — Distribution of snakes in Georgia
- Frotzler, Davitashvili & Mebert 2011 — Distribution of the dice snake in Georgia
- Weiperth et al. 2014 — Global diet overview of Natrix tessellata
- Tuniyev et al. 2011 — Notes on the dice snake from the Caucasian Isthmus
- IUCN Red List — Natrix tessellata
- Bern Convention Appendix II
- საქართველოს მთავრობის დადგენილება №190 (2014) — წითელი ნუსხა
- GBIF
- The Reptile Database
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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