Europe is becoming too hot for some cold-blooded snakes, but one region could become their last major refuge
- Representative imageA new ecological modelling study suggests that climate change could reshape where Europe’s snakes can survive, with cold-adapted species facing the greatest risk.
- While much of Western Europe may become less suitable over time, the Balkan Peninsula could emerge as one of the most important refuges for snake diversity.
- The research looked at 31 European snake species and used climate and land-cover data to project how their habitats may change across two future periods, 2041–2060 and 2061–2080, under both moderate and high-emissions scenarios.
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- Representative imageA new ecological modelling study suggests that climate change could reshape where Europe’s snakes can survive, with cold-adapted species facing the greatest risk.
- While much of Western Europe may become less suitable over time, the Balkan Peninsula could emerge as one of the most important refuges for snake diversity.
- The research looked at 31 European snake species and used climate and land-cover data to project how their habitats may change across two future periods, 2041–2060 and 2061–2080, under both moderate and high-emissions scenarios.
Sources: Times of India