Climate change threatens European snakes; Balkan refuge expected

Climate change is projected to make much of Western Europe, especially the Iberian Peninsula and France, less suitable for cold-adapted snakes due to rising temperatures and drought.

The Balkan Peninsula is identified as a potential major refuge for snake diversity, offering varied microclimates that buffer against heat stress.

The study analyzed 31 European snake species using climate and land-cover data for two future periods (2041–2060 and 2061–2080) under moderate and high-emissions scenarios.

Cold-adapted species such as Vipera berus and Vipera seoanei face significant range contractions and potential extinction risks in Western Europe.

Conservation efforts should prioritize the complex landscapes of the Balkan Peninsula to protect European snake diversity.