Juan Carlos Munoz / Namib sand snake (Psammophis namibensis) in sand dunes, Swakopmund, Erongo Region, Namibia.

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.

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

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) Sado Estuary, Portugal. September

Alain Dragesco-Joffe / False cobra (Malpolon moilensis) Tunisia, Sahara,

Alain Dragesco-Joffe / False cobra (Malpolon moilensis) Tunisia, Sahara,

Jen Guyton / Mopane snake (Hemirhagerrhis nototaenia), from the Greater Gorongosa Ecosystem, Mozambique. Here, the snake shows its defensive tail display -- the contrastingly colored orange tail is held up to dist...

Jen Guyton / Mopane snake (Hemirhagerrhis nototaenia) on the trunk of a tree Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Jen Guyton / Mopane snake (Hemirhagerrhis nototaenia) on the trunk of a tree, Greater Gorongosa Ecosystem, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. Medium repro only