There are some 13 species of snakes in Spain, of which 5 are venomous (shown in red).
Grass Snake
Ladder Snake
Aesculapian Snake
Horseshoe Whip Snake
Smooth Snake
Southern Smooth Snake
Western Whip Snake
Viperine Snake
Asp Viper
Seoane’s Viper
Snub-Nosed Viper
Montpellier Snake
Hooded Snake
Seoane’s viper lives in Galicia, León, the Cantabrian coastal strip and the Basque Country.
The most prevalent of the vipers, Lataste’s viper, is present throughout the Iberian Peninsula, though not actually considered to be common. It is grey, around 50cm in length and is distinguished by its triangular head and zigzag pattern on its back. It lives in dry, rocky areas and away from humans as it is timid. Viper bites can be fatal.
The 2-metre long Montpellier snake is blue with a white underbelly and has prominent ridges over the eyes. The position of its venom fangs means that it would be unlucky to have poison injected into you. The venom is much weaker than the vipers.
If bitten by a snake, try to remain calm and seek medical attention immediately. Bites only occur in the spring and summer as snakes hibernate. Of an estimated 50 snakebite deaths a year in Europe, only 3-6 occur in Spain. More people die from bee and wasp stings.