Aesculapian Snake

The Aesculapian Snake, Elaphe longissima or Zamenis longissimus, is a snake native to Europe. It has a well established colony in North Wales since the 1970s. It can be found in United Kingdom, although it is considered an alien species there. It can also be found in Austria and Germany where Roman temples of healing were established.

It is a large slender non-venomous snake, which is an excellent tree climber. It feeds on rodents, moles, shrews, and young birds and eggs. The young feed mainly on lizards. The female adult lays clutches of 5-8 eggs. There have been a couple of color variations and/or morphs discovered with this species: Amelanism (albino) and Melanism.

This species of snake is also associated with Greek Mythology and Medical History.