Rhinechis scalaris / Elaphe scalaris

This Post is about the amazing Rhinechis scalaris or Elaphe scalaris. I found this youngster in Serra do Louro, Setúbal, Portugal. I took some photographs. What do you think?


This a quite aggressive snake. They grow up to 1,50 meters.


They live in Europe. From Portugal to the east and no further than Italy.


Its name - scalaris (which means ladder / stairs) - Ladder snake(En) - Cobra de escada(Pt) - comes from the pattern they have in their backs.

Range map

Range map source: Wikimedia Commons