Putative hybrids of Natrix natrix vulgaris × N. helvetica sicula: A Baricella near Bologna, Italy; photo: morganaphoto. B Veneto, Italy; photo: Daniele Seglie. Note in both individuals the weak back stripes (never occurring in N. helvetica), the lacking anterior dark element in the occipital region and in (A) the much elongated posterior element in the occipital region (characteristic for N. helvetica). The snake from the Veneto also shows weak side bars (characteristic for N. helvetica). Putative hybrids of N. natrix scutata × N. tessellata from iNaturalist, see text for further explanation: C Skvortsove, Crimea, Ukraine; photo: Denis Davydov. D Dnipro, Ukraine; photo: Anna Nikolenko.