Common name: Müller’s Snake
Scientific name: Micrelaps muelleri
Family: Lamprophiidae

Size:
Total length: 20–40 cm

Identification:
A small, slender snake with a distinctive and striking pattern. The body typically shows alternating bands or blotches of black, white, and reddish tones, often resembling a coral snake pattern. The head is small and not clearly distinct from the body, with smooth scales and a glossy appearance. Despite its vivid coloration, it is a relatively secretive and rarely observed species.

Habitat:
Dry and semi-arid environments including rocky hillsides, open scrublands, and stony slopes. In Lebanon, it is often associated with Mediterranean-type habitats, hiding under stones or within soil and leaf litter.

Status in Lebanon:
Native but rarely encountered due to its secretive and fossorial lifestyle. Likely under-recorded rather than truly scarce.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds mainly on small reptiles such as lizards and possibly other small snakes, along with insects and soft-bodied invertebrates.

Behavior:
Mostly nocturnal and highly secretive. Spends much of its time hidden underground or beneath rocks. It is non-aggressive and relies on concealment rather than confrontation. When disturbed, it may attempt to flee quickly rather than display defensive behavior. Mildly venomous, but not considered dangerous to humans.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)