Sightings of snakes of the species Aesculapian cat snake (Telescopus fallax) are frequently reported in the system: this is a snake that is seen and identified relatively often in settlements in the Mediterranean region. When the cat snake feels threatened, it displays very impressive threat behaviors: it flattens its head, twists its neck, and hisses powerfully. However, it rarely bites and of course is not at all dangerous to humans, and this is also the source of its scientific name: fallax, in Latin, means deceptive.

Noam Segev observed an Aesculapian cat snake in Mevo Dotan (attached photo).

Aesculapian cat snake (Telescopus fallax) Mevo Dotan, 31/07/2023 © נעם שגב