Lafiatis – Elaphe Quatuorlineata

Lafiatis or Lafitis is a non-venomous snake of the Cainospid family. Lafiatis is the largest species of snake found in Greece. Lafiatis lives in Southern Europe, Italy and the Balkans (Croatia, Greece). Juveniles differ in coloration from adults. Adults have a yellowish brown or black color and four black lines that start from its neck and reach the tail. Juveniles have different coloration and are gray-silver with brown or black spots along the back. Its total length reaches up to 1.5 m, while in exceptional cases it can reach up to 2.3 m. Adapts to a variety of habitats at altitudes up to 1400 m.

A ruddy and diurnal snake that avoids very high temperatures. It hunts on the ground, but often climbs trees and bushes. It swims adeptly and feeds on small mammals such as rats and other rodents, small rabbits, birds, lizards, amphibians and eggs. It mates in Spring and females lay 3-18 eggs and the hatchlings are up to 40cm long. Low aggression snake, which may bite if grabbed. He is usually mild-mannered and not aggressive at all. In many areas Lafiatis (or Lafitis) is erroneously called ʺDentrogaliaʺ, while the name is often used for other species of snakes, also erroneously. It is generally a completely harmless snake.

PRESERVATION STATUS:
Least Concern (LC)

THREATS:
It is subject to the most general threats that apply to reptiles, such as habitat degradation from anthropogenic interventions (intensive farming), habitat loss due to natural disasters (fires, floods), illegal collection of individuals for trade (as pets), road mortality from cars.

TARGET GROUPS:
Common citizens, naturalists, breeders, farmers and generally groups of people who are often in contact with the terrestrial environment of the area.