The dice snake (Natrix natrix) is recognised by two white or yellow crescent-shaped marks, each located on one side of the body, just behind the head. The colour contrast is emphasised by a black triangular-shaped stripe that touches the back of each of the two light marks. In fact the black stripe is even more characteristic, as it is present in all individuals (except in completely black – melanistic individuals), while the light crescents can fade with age or even disappear. It has a large eye with a round pupil. For its genus, the dice snake or water snake (Natrix), there are numerous cross black marks on a light background. Females are larger than males and grow from 80 to 150 cm, exceptionally up to 200 cm, while males are usually between 60 and 110 cm long. The dice snake mainly preys on amphibians, less commonly on fish; juveniles prey on tadpoles and larvae of other amphibians.
The habitat of the dice snake is the banks of standing and slow-flowing waters, where they stay as long as there are frogs. When the brown frogs disperse, the dice snakes follow them into damp forests. They are often seen deftly swimming just beneath the surface, with their head protruding from the water to breathe. They also dive well; underwater they can stay for up to 20 minutes.
The dice snake is distributed almost all over Europe, its range extends to the Caspian Sea in the east; we would search in vain only far to the north of Europe. In Slovenia it is a widely distributed species, occurring up to 1500 m above sea level.
The dice snakes mate in spring, in April and May, and in favorable years also once in autumn. In summer, from June to August, females lay 11 to 70 eggs in a heap of manure or rotting leaves, which provides shelter and enough warmth for the development of the embryos. Often more than one female lays eggs in the same heap. After 3 to 10 weeks the young dice snakes hatch, which usually happens in September.
In Slovenia the dice snake is protected by the Regulation on wild animal species; in the Red List of endangered reptiles of Slovenia it is defined as a species of not at risk. The dice snake is a completely harmless snake, which only exceptionally defends itself by biting. It would rather feign death or expel the fetid contents of its cloaca.
