Snakes of the Kurdistan Region

Kurdistan Region is home to a diverse range of snake species from a tiny species such as long-noised worm snake Myriopholis macrorhyncha with around 20 cm to a largest species such as black whip snake Dolichophis jugularis with 250 cm. Currently, 32 species have been confirmed to occur in the region, while the presence of another ten species is considered highly probable. This diversity can be attributed primarily to the region's geographic position, at the intersection of Anatolia, the Mesopotamian Plains, and the Zagros Mountains which has played a major role in shaping current snake fauna.

Although there are no endemic species in the region, several species endemic to the Zagros Mountains occur in the Kurdistan Region, including Zagrosian zebra snake Spalerosophis microlepis, Dark headed dwarf racer or Zagrosian ringed dwarf snake Eirenis nigrofasciatus, and Andreas’ Racer or Zagrosian whip snake Dolichophis andreanus.

Spalerosophis microlepis, Darbandikhan area. Photo: Daniel Jablonski

Eirenis nigrofasciatus, Hazar Merd area. Photo: Daniel Jablonski

Among the recorded species, three venomous snakes have been officially recorded in the region, including Levant viper Macrovipera lebetinus, Kurdistan Viper Montivipera raddei, and black desert cobra Walterinnesia morgani. However, the presence of Persian horned viper Pseudocerastes persicus and spider-tailed viper P. urarachnoides is highly suspected in the southeastern part of the region.

Macrovipera lebetinus, Hazar Merd area. Photo: Soran H. Ahmed

Montivipera raddei, Sakran Mountain. Photo: Soran H. Ahmed

For more information about these fascinating animals, we recommend reading our book, Snakes of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Cover of the book Snakes of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.