European Ratsnake

description

DESCRIPTION Several trunk and a single caudal vertebrae are available in our sample. Trunk vertebrae are longer than wide, with a centrum length to neural arch width ratio over 1.0. There are two anterior trunk vertebrae, which are mainly characterized by the presence of hypapophysis instead of haemal keel. Their centrum lengths are equal to 3.4 mm. In the anterior trunk vertebrae UU RE 408 and UU RE 409 (Fig. 1), in anterior view (Fig. 1 A, F), the zygosphene is thin, the prezygapophyseal articular facets are almost horizontal. The cotyle is orbicular in shape. The neural canal is higher than wide. In posterior view (Fig. 1 B, G), the neural arch is vaulted, with a vaulting ratio (sensu Georgalis et al. 2021) equal to 0.45. The condyle is orbicular. In lateral view (Fig. 1 C, H), the neural spine of anterior trunk vertebrae is prominent and of medium height, overhanging both anteriorly and posteriorly. The centrum is wider than it is tall. The interzygapophyseal ridges are very weakly defined. The paradiapophyses are clearly divided into distinct diapophyses and parapophyses. Subcentral ridges extend longitudinally from the parapophyses to the beginning of the condyle. A hypapophy

First fossil remains of the extant colubrid Zamenis situla (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes) from the island of Crete, Greece

materials_examined

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Greece • Two anterior trunk vertebrae (UU RE 408 and UU RE 409); 40 trunk vertebrae (UU RE 406, UU RE 407, UU RE 410, UU RE 411, UU RE 412, UU RE 414, UU RE 417, UU RE 418, UU RE 419, and UU RE 416 [31 vertebrae]); and one caudal vertebra (UU RE 415).

First fossil remains of the extant colubrid Zamenis situla (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes) from the island of Crete, Greece

Zamenis situla (Linnaeus 1758)

Zamenis situla (Linnaeus, 1758) Remarks. One individual (Fig. 1 C) was observed on the same day in Kërvenik (42.111095, 21.256590) (Fig. 2), moving from the forest to a dry, open, and stony area. The congeneric species, Z. longissimus (Laurenti, 1768), had already been reported in the Republic of Kosovo, while Z. situla is reported here for the first time. The latter is present in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine (Uetz et al. 2025). Like T. fallax, its presence in the Republic of Kosovo is not surprising, as it occurs in all neighboring countries. This species is non-venomous, with an absence of a Duvernoy’s gland; a supposed record of anaphylaxis from the bite of a congener in Serbia is not supported by objective evidence (see below).

Three new country records of colubrid snakes (Squamata, Colubridae) for the Republic of Kosovo

discussion

The first finding of the Leopard Snake dates back to 1985 (Broggi, 1994: 32). A dead on road specimen was observed in 2016 (Schmid, 2019: 74). A detailed record from Amousa (Ammouso) Bay (October 2007, K. Byrnes obs.) is also available on the web.

Annotated checklist of the herpetofauna (Amphibia, Reptilia) of Lefkada Island (Ionian Islands, Greece)