Natrix

Member species of the genus Natrix are collectively called grass snakes and water snakes, but some other snake species also known commonly as "grass snakes" and "water snakes" are not in the genus Natrix.

The genus Natrix contains these species, five of which are recognized as being valid, and one of which is disputed:[1]

• Natrix astreptophora (Seoane, 1885) – Iberian grass snake[2]
• Natrix helvetica (Lacépède, 1789) – barred grass snake[3]
• Natrix maura (Linnaeus, 1758) – viperine water snake [4]
• Natrix megalocephala Orlov & B. Tuniyev, 1987 – large-headed water snake (status controversial)
• Natrix natrix (Linnaeus, 1758) – grass snake [4]
• Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768) – dice snake [4]

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Natrix.

Natrix is classical Latin for a water snake. The word comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "snake", with cognates in the Celtic and Germanic languages, the latter including the English adder. It was probably influenced through folk etymology by the Latin nare and natare meaning "swim";[5][6] it appears to be a grammatically feminine word for "swimmer".

The refuge of a widely distributed Western European lineage regarding the barred grass snake commonly known as Natrix helvetica was most likely located in southern France and outside the classical refuges in the southern European peninsulas. One genetic lineage of the common grass snake (N. natrix) is also distributed in Scandinavia, Central Europe, and the Balkan Peninsula.[7]

• Laurenti JN (1768). Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum. Vienna: "Joan. Thom. Nob. de Trattnern". 214 pp. + Plates I-V. (Natrix, new genus, p. 73). (in Latin).