Coin snake
Scientific name: Coluber nummifer
ٍSituation in the wild: Common
Situation in Israel: Common
The Jerusalem Zoo: One individual at the Small Animal Building
The Coin snake, of the Colubridae family is not a venomous snake and is a common snake in Israel. Although not dangerous, it is known for its bad temper and may furiously try to bite the enemy when it is approached. Its bite is not too painful and not dangerous at all. Despite this, its appearance it misleading- it is strikingly similar to the palestine viper, a very venomous snake common in Israel too. Like the Plaestine viper, it has a triangular head (although it has no venom glands) and V-shaped spot to emphasize the triangular shape of the head. The pattern on its back is remarkably similar to the zig-zag pattern on the back of a viper (the only difference being that the spots on the coin snakes' back are not connected but separate). This way the Coin snake actually "disguises" itself as a Viper to ward off predators. It also mimics the behavior of the Viper, once being approached by a potential enemy, by cocking its head and hissing. This behavior keeps predators that fear that this is a viper away. Those who are not familiar with snakes can mistakenly take one snake for the other. Because of the similarity between the snakes, even if you're almost sure that you have seen a Coin snake, there is the risk of mistake - that does not justify any attempt to capture or disturb it. What if you are wrong and the snake is a Viper? The behavior of disguising as a dangerous animal in order to deter predators is not specific to Coin snakes. Since this behavior is very effective, it is used by many animals, and is called "mimicry". The phenomenon is seen with animals that are not dangerous, imitating colors, or behavior of animal dangerous including venom, poison, stinging, etc. instead of running away or hiding. Here at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, you can see the Coin snake and the Palestine viper dwelling side by side at the Small Animal Building.
Bird Lake:  | Siamang Island: |
| Cheetah Exhibit: | Smal animal Buiding:  |
| Black footed penguin: | Parrot Aviary: |
| Syrian brown bear Exhibit: | Asian lion Exhibit: |
| Red panda Exhibit: | Spider monkey Exhibit: |
| Squirrel monkey Exhibit: | Serval Exhibit: |
| Chimpanzee: | Mandril Exhibit: |
| Persian leopard Exhibit: | Birds of prey Aviary: |
| Tropical Aviary: | Asian elephant exhibit: |
| Wet Side Story: | Bible Land Preserve: |
| African Yard: | Australian Yard: |
| South American Yard: | Howler monkey Exhibit: |
| Underground world Exhibit: | Children's zoo: |
| Lemur land Exhibit: | Sumatran tiger Exhibit: |
| Swamp Aviary: | Eurasean eagle owl Exhibit: |
| Red Panda Exhibit: | Amphibian Exhibit: |
| Giant Aldabra tortoise Exhibit: | Lesser kestrel Exhibit: |
| Eurasean otter Exhibit: | Penguin Exhibit: |
| Lory Aviary: |
