Common name: Diadem Snake
Scientific name: Spalerosophis diadema
Family: Colubridae

Size:
Total length: 100–150 cm
Weight: —

Identification:
A large, slender snake with an elongated body and relatively narrow head. Coloration ranges from sandy yellow to light brown or olive, with darker blotches along the body. A distinctive dark marking on the head forms a crown- or diadem-like pattern, which gives the species its name. The scales are smooth, and the eyes are large with round pupils.

Habitat:
Dry and semi-arid environments including rocky hillsides, open scrublands, agricultural fields, and Mediterranean-type landscapes. Often associated with stone cover and open terrain.

Status in Lebanon:
Native and locally present. Uncommon but regularly recorded in suitable habitats, especially in drier regions.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on small mammals, birds, lizards, and occasionally eggs.

Behavior:
Diurnal and active, often seen moving swiftly across open ground. A non-venomous constrictor that subdues prey by coiling around it. Alert and fast-moving; may become defensive if disturbed but harmless to humans. Often shelters under rocks or in burrows.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)