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Free Images: "bestof:Natrix tessellata 02.JPG en The Dice snake bathing in the Brno Reservoir own photo HTO 2010-06-06 Natrix tessellata"
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![The dice snake (Natrix tessellata) is a Eurasian nonvenomous snake belonging to the family Colubridae, subfamily Natricinae. It is also called water snake.\nBrief description\n\nIllustration of dice snake (top) and grass snake (Natrix natrix) including underside\nFemales are bigger than males. Their typical size is 1.0–1.3 m long. Their color may vary from greyish green to brownish or almost black, with dark spots on the back. The belly is sometimes vividly coloured in yellow or orange, with black spots, very similar to dice, hence the name. \nBiology:\nLiving mainly near rivers, streams and lakes, it frequently feeds on fish. Sometimes, it feeds also on amphibians such as frogs, toads, and tadpoles. \nClassified as nonvenomous, N. tessellata produces a potent antihemorrhagin in its serum[4] and has been said to produce a neurotoxin through a gland in its mouth.[5] As a defence, it spreads a very bad-smelling secretion from its cloaca. Another defence mechanism is thanatosis, playing dead. \nDuring the mating season (March–May), they congregate in large groups. Egg-laying is usually in July, and one clutch consists of 10–30 eggs. The young snakes hatch in early September. \nDice snakes hibernate from October to April in dry holes near the water. \nDistribution:\nThe dice snake is found throughout much of Eurasia: Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Poland,[6] Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Yemen. The species is also present in Egypt (source Wikipedia).\n\nThis Picture is made during a Vacation in Bulgaria in May 2018.](https://media.istockphoto.com/id/1493946538/photo/dice-snake.jpg?b=1&s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=l2PmN9JYvpsKt4pdkZqhEoXQeF-oqANrHkdvYT9P_Ms=)
