Dice snake

About

The Dice snake is usually up to one meter long, with females being larger than males. Its coloration is olive, gray-green, or brown with dark spots arranged in a checkered pattern. The belly is yellowish or orange with black rectangular spots. The head is narrow and pointed, with a round pupil. Unlike the common snake, it does not have yellow or orange spots on the sides of its head.

Because of this, the Dice snake is often considered a viper, and the folk term 'checkered viper' mostly refers to it. In reality, the snake is non-venomous and safe for humans. The common viper has a zigzag stripe along its back, a vertical pupil, and a short, thick body, and is not tied to water.

The Dice snake spends almost its entire life near and in water: it swims and dives excellently and primarily feeds on fish, occasionally frogs and tadpoles. It usually carries caught fish to the shore and swallows them there.

In the Carpathian region, this species inhabits warm valleys: it is found along rivers, backwaters, ponds, and reservoirs of the Transcarpathian lowland, foothills, and the Dniester valley. It does not enter cold mountain streams or high altitudes. It basks on coastal stones, dams, and concrete slabs.

When disturbed, the snake escapes into the water. If caught, it hisses, releases a liquid with a sharp smell, sometimes plays dead, but almost never bites. The species is protected in the EU (Annex IV of the Habitats Directive). Killing snakes is prohibited — it is better to simply walk around.

Where in the Carpathians

Orange — where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0/CC BY). It occurs only locally, so we draw no approximate range; a blank area does not mean it is absent.

Countries

Ukraine · Austria · Romania · Slovakia · Hungary

Mountain ranges

Krasna Polonyna, Watershed Ridge, Rivna Polonyna, Vihorlat-Gutin Volcanic Ridge. In other countries: 🇷🇴 Almăj and Locva Mountains, 🇷🇸 Đerdap and Miroč, 🇷🇴 Codru-Moma and Zarand, 🇸🇰 Slovak Ore Mountains

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

Non-venomous and safe for humans. If unsure whether it is a snake or a viper, do not touch the snake and walk around it. After a bite from any snake with swelling and pain, call 103 (or 112).

Look-alikes — how to tell them apart

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Species of Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive.

FAQ