Wild Wonders of Europe / Ziegler / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) shortly before shedding its skin, The Peloponnese, Greece, May 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Ziegler / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) shortly before shedding its skin, The Peloponnese, Greece, May 2009

Luis Quinta / Juvenile male Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) coiled, Alentejo, Portugal

Luis Quinta / Juvenile male Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Alentejo, Portugal

Robert Valentic / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanis insignitus) juvenile basking in the morning along an old wall in a field, Dadia Forest, Greece, August. Controlled conditions.

Fabio Pupin / Montpellier snake, (Malpolon monspessulanus), juvenile in habitat, Spain, September . Non-ex.

Fabio Pupin / Montpellier snake, (Malpolon monspessulanus), in habitat, Spain, September . Non-ex.

Fabio Pupin / Montpellier snake, (Malpolon monspessulanus), Croatia, May . Non-ex.

Pedro Narra / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) on sand in evening light. Sado Estuary Natural Reserve, Portugal. June

David Pattyn / Western Montpellier Snake (Malpolon insignitus), Kresna gorge, South West Bulgaria, April

Pedro Narra / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Sado Estuary, Portugal. September

Daniel Heuclin / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) in desert, Souss Region, Morocco.

Daniel Heuclin / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) moving across sand, Souss, Morocco.

Daniel Heuclin / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) coiled, in habitat, Souss, Morocco.

Daniel Heuclin / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Souss, Morocco.

Daniel Heuclin / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) moving across sand in habitat, Souss, Morocco.

Luis Quinta / Juvenile Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Portugal, July.

Luis Quinta / Juvenile Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Portugal, July.

Luis Quinta / Juvenile Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Portugal, July.

Luis Quinta / Juvenile Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) portrait, Portugal, July.

Luis Quinta / Juvenile Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) portrait, Portugal, July.

Luis Quinta / Juvenile Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Portugal, July.

Luis Quinta / Juvenile Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Portugal, July.

Juan Manuel Borrero / Illustration of Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) top, and Asp Viper (Vipera aspis), bottom. Pencil and watercolor painting.

Daniel Heuclin / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) moving through desert environment, with head raised. Morocco. Controlled conditions.

Daniel Heuclin / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) close up, with jaw open using metal instrument, to show venomous fangs. Captive, Morocco.

Daniel Heuclin / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) moving amongst rocks. Morocco. Controlled conditions.

Daniel Heuclin / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) exposed in desert landscape, with head raised. Morocco. Controlled conditions.

Daniel Heuclin / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) close up, on rough ground. Morocco. Controlled conditions.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Ziegler / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) hidden amongst plants, shortly before shedding its skin, The Peloponnese, Greece, May 2009

Luis Quinta / Male Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) portrait, Alentejo, Portugal

Luis Quinta / Male Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) on wood, Alentejo, Portugal

Luis Quinta / Male Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Alentejo, Portugal

Luis Quinta / Male Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) portrait, Alentejo, Portugal

Georgi Tzonev / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus), Kresna Gorge, Bulgaria

Jose Luis GOMEZ de FRANCISCO / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) sunning itself on rock, Spain

Juan Manuel Borrero / Montpellier snake {Malpolon monspessulanus} Spain

Jose B. Ruiz / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Cadiz, Spain

Jose B. Ruiz / Montpellier snake, Spain

Robin Chittenden / Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Pyrenees, Spain, June

Jose B. Ruiz / Close-up of Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Cadiz, Spain