Four-lined snake

The species' common name refers to the markings seen on the body of adult snakes: four dark stripes running along a yellowish brown body. Juveniles, by contrast, have a dorsal series of dark brown blotches with alternating dark brown spots on the sides, all on a pale brown background. A black line runs from the corner of the eye and the belly is cream to white with darker markings. Adults can reach a length of , rarely . Adults are among the heaviest European snakes but are greatly variably in size, with males potentially weighing from and females potentially weighing from within the Aegean Islands. ==Distribution==

Four-lined snakes are found in Italy, along the whole western coast of the Balkan peninsula, in the western half of Greece and many of the Greek islands, the region of Macedonia, the southwestern corner of Bulgaria, coastal Slovenia, coastal Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania. The number of snakes and the density of the populations are unknown. ==Habitat and behavior==

The four-lined snake favours areas with a Mediterranean climate and is found in habitats featuring vegetation, stone walls, sparse woodland, forest margins and deserted buildings. == Diet ==

A large proportion of the snakes' diet consists of small mammals, such as rabbits, weasels, squirrels, and mice. == Reproduction ==

The mating season lasts from April to May. Females have a gestation period that lasts about two months, the eggs being laid in summer. Females typically lay around 6–18 eggs and incubate them for about 40–60 days. == Conservation ==

The four-lined snake has been considered endangered in Bulgaria due to poachers and agriculture. It appears on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as "Near Threatened" because of probable significant decline in its abundance and widespread habitat loss. ==References ==