The Algarve is home to different types of snake. You are unlikely to encounter them outside of their natural habitats however. In summer, snakes like damp, cool places where they can avoid the heat of the sun.

The Ladder Snake (Elaphe scalaris) lives in coastal regions and grows to 1.60 meter. It is a constrictor and has no fangs.

The Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) grows usually to 1.2 meter, but can reach 2 meter. The snake, that lives in damp places, hisses and strikes with mouth closed. It has no fangs.

The False Smooth (Coronella girondica) grows to 45 – 65 centimeter. It prefers the night and hides in daytime under stones or old walls or ruins. It bites but because it’s small fangs are at the back of the mouth they have no effective use on humans

The Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) is poisonous, bad enough to cause a lot of pain but generally not enough to kill a human. It grows to two meters, is blue with a white underbelly and typically lives in dry, stony places along fields or close to ruins where there are many lizards. Threatened, it hisses loudly and attacks with the mouth closed. One of its characteristic features is a prominent ridge above its eyes.

Western Whip (Coluber viridiflavus)

The Horseshoe Whip (Coluber hippocrepis) grows to 1.5 meter. It is rather slim and has a pattern of dark edged blotches. It lives near humans and buildings. It possesses no fangs.

The Viperine Snake (Natrix maura) snake is aquatic and inhabits ponds, rivers and streams. It is an exceptionally good swimmer and can stay under water for up to 15 minutes.

The Lataste's Viper (Vipera latastei) is less than 60 centimeter. It has a triangular shaped head, a distinct nose horn and a zigzag dorsal stripe with a dark edge. Its bite is rather irritable but not considered serious.