The spotted snake is considered a venomous snake. A breakthrough discovery by scientists

There are only five species of snakes in Poland. However, the latest research by scientists from Italy and Switzerland turns the current knowledge about these reptiles upside down. The spotted snake (Coronella austriaca), previously considered a completely non-venomous snake, has been officially classified as a venomous species. This is a breakthrough discovery that changes the scientific view of Polish herpetofauna.

For decades, the smooth snake was perceived in Poland as a snake completely safe for humans. It was often confused with the pit viper - the only Polish snake previously considered venomous. However, the latest scientific article, published in the prestigious journal "Zootaxa", proposes a change to this classification.

Herpetologists Alessandro Paterna and Grégoire Meier analyzed the head structure, teeth and venom glands of the smooth snake and described its rear teeth in detail for the first time. It turned out that they were slightly grooved and connected to the Duvernoy gland - a modified salivary gland that produces toxic secretion.

Although the smooth snake has been officially classified as a venomous snake, it poses no threat to humans. Its venom and specialized teeth are used only to incapacitate small prey - mainly lizards, and sometimes small mammals or other snakes. The toxin produced by the smooth snake is not dangerous to humans, and the snake itself does not show aggression towards humans. Experts emphasize that the change in classification has only scientific significance and should not cause concern among walkers or nature lovers.

Venomousness in snakes is not a binary issue. As noted by prof. Wolfgang Wüster of Bangor University, there is a spectrum between snakes that are completely non-venomous and those whose venom is lethal to large animals and humans. Most of the world's approximately four thousand species of snakes descend from a common ancestor that had small venom glands and modified rear teeth 65 million years ago. In the smooth snake, this venom apparatus has been preserved in an intermediate form - sufficient for hunting small prey, but not dangerous to larger animals.

The spotted snake is a snake that is rarely seen in Poland and is a strictly protected species. It can most often be found in the southern regions of the country - in the Świętokrzyskie, Lesser Poland and Podkarpackie voivodeships, although individual localities have also been recorded in the west and north.