Overview
European cat snake in Georgia
The European cat snake (Telescopus fallax) is a nocturnal snake of dry rocky country in eastern and southern Georgia, with a vertical pupil. It belongs to the family Colubridae. The 2026 Georgian checklist treats it as biologically confirmed; distribution confidence is medium. The 2021 Georgian snake study lists it as nocturnal and groups it with dry-climate species of rocky or grassland settings, mostly in eastern Georgia. This page has no named record from the west or Colchis. Caucasian populations are often called subspecies T. f. iberus; the type locality is Tbilisi (“Tiflis”). The fangs sit at the back of the mouth — the venom is for hunting and is medically insignificant for people. Species-level length is usually about 60–100 cm. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
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Gallery
European cat snake in photos
Photo: Alex Ville
Georgia field photo
Photo: Armen Seropian
Dighomi Valley
Georgia field photo
Photo: Titouan Roguet
Georgia field photo
Photo: Giorgi Iankoshvili
Dedoplistskaro ·
Georgia field photo
Photo: Benny Trapp · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Gocha Nemsadze
Karsani ·
Photo: Malkhaz Gabeskiria
Iagluji Mountain, Rustavi ·
Georgia field photo
Photo: Lasha Javakhishvili
Mtatsminda ·
Identification
How to identify European cat snake
A slender nocturnal snake with large eyes and a vertical pupil. In Georgia the main risk is confusion with vipers — both have vertical pupils, so compare body shape, scale texture, and head shields first.
The body is slender and almost cylindrical, with a relatively short tail. The head is flattened, oval, and moderately distinct from the neck. The eyes are large. The pupil is vertical and closes to a slit in daylight — the source of the Georgian name. Dorsal scales are smooth; there are often about 19 rows at mid-body. The crown has large, symmetrical shields — vipers have small, irregular scales on top of the head. Do not pick the snake up to count scales.
The ground colour is grey, sandy, brown, or olive. The back has darker crossbars or blotches that may fade towards the tail. The head often has a dark pattern and an oblique dark stripe from the eye toward the mouth. The belly is pale, often with fine dark dots. Juveniles are more contrastingly marked. Species-level length is usually 60–100 cm; a separate maximum for Georgia is not given here.
The Transcaucasian nose-horned viper (Vipera transcaucasiana) and other vipers are stouter, with keeled dorsal scales and a more triangular head without large crown shields. The blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera lebetina) is thicker still and medically significant. A slender snake with large eyes and smooth scales is this species, not a viper. The smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) has a round pupil and is smaller. The steppe rat snake (Elaphe dione) and Dahl’s whip snake (Platyceps najadum) have round pupils and are active by day.
The fangs sit at the back of the mouth. An effective envenoming bite to a person is almost impossible; this atlas treats the species as harmless. A bite can still hurt. Do not handle it. If you cannot rule out a vertical- pupilled viper, treat the animal as venomous and leave it alone.
The 2026 Georgian checklist treats it as biologically confirmed. The 2021 Georgian snake study lists it as nocturnal and groups it with dry-climate species of rocky or grassland settings, mostly in eastern Georgia. This page has no named record from the west or Colchis. Caucasian populations are often called subspecies T. f. iberus; the type locality is Tbilisi (“Tiflis”).
Quiz
Next: which snake is it?
European cat snake is in the Georgia snake quiz. Ten field photos, four names — eye practice, not field ID.
Biology
Habitat, diet, behavior, and conservation
Habitat and range
The 2021 Georgian study treats the species as dependent on a reasonably dry climate: rocky or grassland settings, mostly in eastern Georgia. Across the wider range it uses stony slopes, rock crevices, scrub, open woodland edges, ruins, and dry-stone walls. It climbs rock and walls well. By day it shelters under stones, in crevices, or under bark. This atlas map marks Shida Kartli, Mtskheta — Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, and Tbilisi. Named photographs are from Mtatsminda in Tbilisi and Iagluji Mountain near Rustavi. This page has no named record from Samtskhe — Javakheti; do not expect it throughout western Georgia. Literature often cites elevations to about 2,000 m at species level; a separate elevational range for Georgia is not published here.
Diet
There is no separate Georgian diet study for this species. Across the range it feeds mainly on lizards; it also takes small snakes, nestling birds, and small mammals. In the Mediterranean, geckos are often important prey — in Georgia the only gecko in the checklist (Tenuidactylus caspius) has a limited range, so lizards are the more realistic local prey. It pins prey with body loops and subdues it with rear fangs. The venom is for hunting, not a threat to people.
Behavior
The 2021 Georgian study lists it as nocturnal; that sets it apart from the country’s day-active racers. It hides by day and hunts at dusk and night. Large eyes and a vertical pupil serve night vision — in daylight the pupil closes to a slit. When threatened it usually flees or hides; some accounts describe coiling and hissing, rarely biting. Do not handle it. It is egg-laying: species-level literature often cites about 5–9 eggs (sometimes 4–12). Mating season and clutch size in Georgia are not published here. Overwintering details for Georgia are not described in the sources on this page.
Conservation
The 2009 IUCN Red List assessment lists it as Least Concern. It is not on Georgia’s 2014 Red List — the snakes listed there include Dinnik’s viper and the Caucasus viper. In Europe it is on Bern Convention Annex II and EU Habitats Directive Annex IV; the Habitats Directive is not Georgian law. The 2026 checklist treats it as biologically confirmed. Local threats include habitat conversion, road mortality, and killing after confusion with vipers. The vertical pupil is exactly why that confusion happens. It takes part in local food webs by hunting lizards. Do not handle it.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most important questions about European cat snake.
Yes. The 2026 checklist treats it as biologically confirmed. This page has no named record from western Georgia or Colchis.
In dry rocky or grassy country, mainly in the east. This atlas map marks Shida Kartli, Mtskheta — Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, and Tbilisi. Named photographs are from Mtatsminda and Iagluji Mountain near Rustavi. This page has no named record from Samtskhe — Javakheti.
It has venom, but the fangs sit at the back of the mouth and it is medically harmless to people. This atlas treats it as harmless. It usually flees. Do not handle it. Vipers also have vertical pupils — if you are unsure, leave it alone.
Slender body, large eyes, vertical pupil, smooth scales, large head shields, dark crossbars on the back, activity at dusk and night. Vipers are stouter, with keeled scales and small scales on the crown. Smooth snake and day-active racers have round pupils.
At species level usually about 60–100 cm. A separate measured length for Georgia is not given on this page.
At dusk and at night. The 2021 Georgian study lists it as nocturnal. By day it hides under stones or in crevices, so people often meet it by chance — turning rocks or on walls.
It is egg-laying; species-level literature often cites about 5–9 eggs. It feeds mainly on lizards. Diet and clutch size in Georgia have not been measured separately.
Leave it alone and do not pick it up. It does not seek people. If you cannot rule out a vertical-pupilled viper, treat it as venomous.
References
Sources
References
Sources
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 — Annotated checklist of Georgia's amphibians and reptiles
- Iankoshvili & Tarkhnishvili 2021 — Distribution of snakes in Georgia
- Agasyan et al. 2009 — IUCN Red List account for Telescopus fallax
- საქართველოს მთავრობის დადგენილება №190 (2014) — წითელი ნუსხა
- The Reptile Database
- Šmíd et al. 2019 — phylogeny of Old World cat snakes
- Di Nicola et al. 2024 — field characters of European vipers vs colubrids
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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