The Scientific Name: Vipera ammodytes
When walking in the hills, especially during the first month of Spring, be very careful and on the look out for the famous Poisonous Snake of Greece ....THE OCHIA! It's bite can be fatal and there are few, if any antidotes available in pharmacies and hospitals in Greece!!!
I took this photo at the Monastery of Agios Pavlos in Plaka above Lavrion on 3rd April, 2009. The Nun there, who was clearing the overgrowth in their garden told me that this was the second snake they had killed in the past week. She also told me that this snake must be killed by smashing the head, or else the snake does not die, even if it is cut into two pieces, and that it will 'regenerate' just as an earthworm does when it is cut!
The Ochia is a long, thin snake and is well camouflaged. It likes to sun itself on the rocks in the Spring time. If you have the misfortune of being bitten, your best bet is to find a Veterinarian, who may more likely have an antidote than even a hospital! This is because hunters more often have their hunting dogs bitten by these snakes than do local people. The Greeks do not climb up on the hillsides and rocks in the Spring time for this reason.
Most people and especially tourists, do not think of Greece as a country with poisonous animals. Perhaps this is because, most of the poisonous creatures in Greece are rarely seen. This, fortunately for most, is just as well kept that way. It remains a fact that these poisonous creatures do exist in Greece and far better to be warned than sorry.
In the 30 years I have been in Greece, this was the first and only sighting of a poisonous snake that I was aware of. I've never seen a scorpion and the spiders...well, I saw some huge hanging spiders on the island of Kea that were unidentified at the time! Neverthless, I like to think that I have no desire to go off hunting for this creatures. As my Grandmother used to say, 'Best to leave sleeping dogs (spiders, snakes and scorpions) Lie! I'll second that!
4 comments:
The killed snake on the picture above is certainly not an Ochia! It seems to be a Leopard Snake (Zamenis situla) and it's absolutely harmless to people, althoug it can bite.
This species is probably the most beautiful snake of europe and it's quite rare. Therefore it should not be killed but admired.
Yes correct. Vipers are not long and thin at all. The pictured species is a harmless leopard snake. It seems the author of this blog is as ill informed as the daft nun he spoke to. People should leave snakes alone. They are beautiful and generally harmless to people unless persecuted. They play an important role in reducing the numbers of rats and mice. They have also been around a lot longer than the half witted humans who seem to delight in killing them.
Not a leopard snake - more likely a Balkan whip snake. Most Vipers in Greece are described as stubby and fat rather than long or thin. Unfiortuantely this example is on its back so it is difficult to see the classic Ochia markings. Ochias are grey/black/brown but they do differ in overall tone. I have seen very grey ochias and also very brown almost red ochias. I suppose the new skin is more vivid after shedding skin.
On second thoughts, it is possibly a leopard snake. But the identification doesn't tick all the boxes. I have seen a beautiful leopard snake in Greece and most other varieties which is why I think this may not be. It is not beautiful enough!
But whatever it is - it is not a good reason to kill it. Whenever I say I have seen a snake in Greece the first word the villagers say is, "Scotosis?" mean literally "darkened?" - killed.They make no distinction between nice and nasty. They are all drakons!
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