Coluber numifer

Due to it's appearence (patterns, triangled head) and very aggressive behaviour, this snake oftenly is confused with vipers - in Cyprus with the Blunt Nosed Viper and especially in the Middle East with the Palestinean Viper.

Identification:
In Cyprus this snake grows up to approx. 170 cm, adult specimens are usually in the size of 130-150 cm.
Specimens from Golan Hights (ssp. ravergieri ?) are smaller in average, they hardly reach 100 cm.
It is yellowish brown to grey with dark-brown or almost black deltoid-shaped 'coins' in the middle line of it's back, sometimes melting together, especially in the rear part of the body. On specimens from Golan Hights these patterns are more intense and than on specimens from Cyprus.
Flanks with two rows of dark blotches.
On it's belly this snake is creme to greyish coloured with some darker grayish irregular spots.
Especially when aggressive, this snake can spread it's back-head to a triangular appearence.

Biology:
This egg-laying snake is day- and night active, but especially on Golan Hights I found this snake so far only at night. It prefers places with many hiding possi-bilities, such as slopes with gravel and shrubs, stone-piles, old houses and stables, where it hunts also it's pray. Specialised in climbing on rocks, housewalls and trees , it is mainly robbing nests of small mammals and birds. Juvenile specimens are also hunting geckoes at their hiding places.

Distribution:
From Aegean Islands, Turkey, Cyprus, Middle East to Northern Egypt.

non-venomous, but very aggressive, easily biting and loudly hissing when disturbed.