Nathair

The Nathair is a species of venomous snake. They are found in a wide variety of terrain types, from grassland to desert.

The species is not commonly regarded as dangerous, as they are not aggressive and usually bites only when provoked, stepped on or picked up. Bites can be very painful, but are rarely fatal. They feed on small mammals, birds, lizards and amphibians, and have been seen to prey on spiders, worms and insects on occasion.

Female breed once every two or thee years, with litters usually being born in late summer to early autumn. Litters range in size from 3-20, with the young staying with their mothers for a few days. Adults can grow to a length of 90cm, including the tail, but the average length is 55cm.

The head is fairly large and distinct, and its sides are almost flat and vertical. The edge of the snout is usually raised into a low ridge. Seen from above, the rostral scale is not visible. Dorsally, there are usually five large plates: a square frontal, two parietals, and two long and narrow supraoculars. The latter are large and distinct, each separated from the frontal by one to four small scales. The nostril is situated in a shallow depression within a large nasal scale. The eyes are relatively large, but are often smaller in females.

Environmental Adaptation
The Nathair is a species which goes through complete triannual physiological change, depending on the season.

Their seasonal changes are purely based on camouflage to aid hunting. In summer, the Nathair adopts a dusky grey colour on their scales, disguising them against rocky terrain. Between summer and winter, their pattern is a lighter beige with darker brown patterning. In winter, their colours fade to a lighter white, which aids them with hiding in snowy terrain.