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Description
It reaches a length of more than 2 m (the maximum size recorded for this species is 2.25 m). Parietal scutes are located in two rows (in the last - three small ones, in the first - two, less often - one). Wide (1.5 times wider than its length) intermaxillary scutellum slightly protruding between internasal scutes. Preorbital shield - one large, no infraorbital, postorbital - two; the trapezoidal zygomatic scutellum touches 2-3 superlabials and sometimes even the first, and the eye - the fourth and fifth (in the case of eight superlabials) or the fifth and sixth (in the case of nine) scutes. There are usually 23 rows of scales around the middle of the body (rarely - 21). In the number of ventral and caudal scutes, sexual dimorphism is noticeable, although the overlap of indicators for these characters is significant: ventral scutes in males - 195-236, in females - 207-248, and in males - 60 - 85 pairs, in females - 60 - 100 The anal shield is bifurcated. The ventral shields on the sides have clearly visible ridges, which form two ribs on the sides of the abdomen, stretching almost along the entire body. The body scales of this species are smooth in the anterior part of the body, and weakly ribbed in the posterior part. The ribbing is better expressed in males than in females.
The general color background is yellowish-grayish-cream, sometimes olive-brown or gray-brown. The whitish edges of some of the scales create a fine mesh pattern on the back of this species of snake. Its belly can be white, with a mother-of-pearl tint (more often in males), egg-yellow (usually in females), with dark spots merging to varying degrees, sometimes painting the underside of the body almost black. Whitish spots are noticeable from the mouth to the back of the head, and an unsharp dark strip extends from the posterior edge of the eye to the corner of the mouth. In juveniles, a pair of rounded or rounded-triangular black spots are clearly visible from above in the neck area, connecting at the posterior edge of the parietal scutes, and two oval yellowish occipital spots, which disappear with age. Only in 30% of adults, occipital spots can be weakly expressed. For this species, albinos are described, having a straw color and red eyes.
Spreading
Aesculapian snake is found from the North-East. Italy to the Caucasus (Georgia and Azerbaijan), known from South. Moldova and Southwest. Ukraine, Krasnodar Territory to the foothills of Adygea. The nominate subspecies lives here. Aesculapian snakes living in the North. Iran and Talysh (South-East Azerbaijan), are now classified as an independent species - the Persian snake (Elaphe persica (Werner, 1913)). It differs from the Aesculapian snake not only in smaller sizes (up to 1 m long), but also in the almost black color of the body with light areas only on the upper labials, on the sides and below the head. Aesculapian snake on the territory of the former USSR is confined to the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.
Lifestyle
The Aesculapian snake usually lives on wooded foothills (from beech to coniferous forests with evergreen undergrowth), rising into the mountains to a height of up to 2000 m above sea level. It sometimes appears on tea plantations and hazelnut plantations, wet meadows and forest clearings, rocky slopes of ravines. It shelters in the burrows of mammals and voids between stones, heaps of brushwood and tree hollows. He can use his individual plots and shelters for several years. It climbs trees using the unevenness of the bark, on which it rests with the free edges of the ventral scutes and the curves of the body. On the branches of adjoining crowns, it is able to easily crawl from tree to tree. Avoids open areas, preferring moist biotopes.
The active season begins in April - May and lasts until October, but in places with a warm maritime climate, wintering can take place in early December. Mating takes place on the ground, and sometimes even in trees in May - June.
In Aesculapius snakes, the so-called mating dance is described, when the male and female wrap around each other with the back halves of the body, lifting the front ones up. In this position, they can crawl. At the time of mating, the male holds the female with his jaws by the neck. Usually in July, the female lays 4 - 10 eggs 17 - 20 x 35 - 50 mm in size, after 2 - 3 months, yearlings appear from them.
The diet is dominated by rodents, shrews, bird eggs, nestlings, and sometimes adult small songbirds. When hunting, the snake examines holes and nests, climbs trees. It suffocates prey by squeezing it with body rings. A large prey digests for about four days.
Enemies are birds of prey and mammals, there are known cases of attacks on him by owls. This snake is quite an aggressive snake. Can inflict painful bites. In most cases, lesions are accompanied by edema and local hemorrhages.
Aesculapian snake has a relict habitat, which was the reason for its inclusion in the Red Books of Russia, Ukraine and Georgia.
Security
It is protected on the territory of the Sochi State Natural National Park, the Golovinsky and Goryache-Klyuchevsky wildlife preserves, the Khostinsky yew-boxwood grove of the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve and its southwest. periphery (Western forestry).
Notes
Literature
- Ananyeva N. B., Orlov N. L., Khalikov R. G., Darevsky I. S., Ryabov S. A., Barabanov A. V. Atlas of reptiles of Northern Eurasia (taxonomic diversity, geographical distribution and conservation status). - St. Petersburg. : Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2004. - S. 149. - 1000 copies. - ISBN 5-98092-007-2
- Bannikov A.G., Darevsky I.S., Ishchenko V.G., Rustamov A.K., Shcherbak N.N. Key to amphibians and reptiles of the fauna of the USSR. - M .: Education, 1977. - S. 181-183. - 415 p. DjVu, 18Mb
Links
- The Reptile Database: Zamenis longissimus(English)
Categories:
- Animals alphabetically
- Species out of danger
- Shrinking views of Russia
- climbing snakes
- Reptiles of Eurasia
- Animals described in 1768
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Taxonomic affiliation: Class - Reptiles (Reptilia), series - Snakes (Serpentes), family - Already-shaped (Colubridae). One of 5 species of the genus, one of 2 species of the genus in the fauna of Ukraine. By 2002, it was considered in the genus of climbing skids Elaphe Fitzinger, 1832.
Conservation status: Vanishing.
The range of the species and its distribution in Ukraine: S. and Central Europe, p. half of Asia Minor, Caucasus. In Ukraine, it occurs sporadically in the app. regions and locally in the Nikolaev region. Willingly inhabits ruins and abandoned buildings, it happens in settlements.
Number and reasons for its change Usually there are only single individuals. In Transcarpathia, in the valley of the Uzh River, several individuals can be found during the day. Relatively stable populations are known in the middle reaches of the Dniester and Yu. Bug (the population in the area of the village of Migeya is estimated at 350 individuals). In many places, the populations of the species are endangered or have disappeared.
Reasons for the change in numbers: Anthropogenic transformation of habitats, poaching.
Features of biology and scientific significance: Active from mid-April - early May to mid-September - the first decade of October. A heat-loving species, leads a daytime lifestyle, but hides in the heat. Good for climbing trees and walls. It feeds on small mammals, less often birds and reptiles. Mating is in May-June. In June-July, the female lays 4-12 eggs. Young growth appears in the second half of August-September. Nonpoisonous.
Morphological features: One of the largest snakes in Europe, in Ukraine the total body length can reach 2.8 m, although it is usually 0.9-1.6 m. The scales are smooth, there are 21 or 23 rows of scales around the middle of the body. The upper side of the body is predominantly monochromatic, from various shades of olive, brown or gray to almost black, the underside is yellowish or whitish. There are yellowish spots on the sides of the head at the back.
Population conservation regime and protection measures: The species is under special protection of the convention (Annex II). It is protected in the Carpathian BZ, NNP Uzhansky, "Saint Beskydy", Vizhnitsky, "Podolsky Tovtry", RLP "Dniester Canyon" and "Granite-steppe Pobuzhie". It is necessary to preserve the unique isolated population in the Yu. Bug canyon, which suffers from excessive recreational use of the river banks, may die from flooding due to the construction of a complex of hydraulic structures for the South Ukrainian NPP.
Reproduction and breeding in specially created conditions: The species is successfully propagated in the Tula exotarium (Russia). In Ukraine, such a program was implemented at the Kiev Zoo.
Economic and commercial importance: Economic importance negligible due to low numbers. It is kept in captivity, therefore it is of commercial importance.
Type of:
Class:
Squad:
SCALED - SquamataSystematic position
The snake family is Colubridae.Status
2 "Vulnerable" -2, SW. In the Red Data Book RFotne-sen to the category "2 - Decreasing in numbers" with the status - species with declining numbers andrelic area, possibly represented by a self-
yately form. In the Red Book of the USSR it is assigned
to category II. Rare Species” with the status - species, co-
dwindling in numbers.
Global endangered category
populations on the IUCN Red List
Not included in the IUCN Red List.
Category according to IUCN Red List criteria
The regional population is categorized"Vulnerable" - Vulnerable, VU B2b. B. S. Tuniev,
S. B. Tuniev.
Belonging to the objects of action of international agreements and conventions ratified by the Russian Federation
Do not belong.Brief morphological description
The length of the body with the tail reaches 1400 mm. Dorsal sto-the rhone is olive-brown, more often lacquer-gray
with a white mesh pattern, on the Black Sea coast
in the lower part of the Caucasus, black-colored specimens predominate
ry with a white mesh pattern. Belly - mother-of-pearl -
white or gray, y - egg yellow. newborns
snakes (100%) have two large yellow occipital
spots that disappear or are barely noticeable in (30%) adults. Young animals often have rounded spots on the upper surface of the body, which are completely absent in adults.
Spreading
Relic East Mediterranean species. The global range of the species extends from northeastern and eastern Spain through central and southern Europe to the north of Asia Minor and the Caucasus. In the Russian Federation, the species is found in KKiRA. Psou in the southeast. Type territory: Vienna (Austria).Features of biology and ecology
Inhabits near-river forests, boxwoods, oak forests, hornbeam beech forests, juniper woodlands, tea plantations and hazelnut gardens. The mountains rise up to 600 m above sea level. seas. These heat-loving snakes appear after wintering among the last reptiles in early April - early May. They leave for wintering at the end of October, but on some warm days in the vicinity of Sochi they can be observed even later, until the beginning of December-January. In mid-June, mating of esculapid snakes was observed on Mt. Akhun, which lasted 20 minutes. First ♂10 min hold ♀
by the neck, then lets go. Mating individuals were observed on top of boxwood at a height of 5–7 m from the ground. Young ones emerge from eggs with a body length of 240 mm, tail - 48 mm, one-year-old snakes have a body length of 503 mm, tail - 127 mm. In the Matsesta forestry, the prey of the snake is the little forest mouse (Sylvaemus uralensis), Asia Minor shrub vole (Microtus majori), and the Caucasian long-tailed shrew (Sorex raddei), possibly birds. Moulting in escu-paw snakes was observed from June to October inclusive, however, mass molting was noted in July.
Numbers and trends
According to the Red Book of the USSR, in Abkhazia and Adzharia, on average, there are 1–2 individuals per 1 ha. On the territory of KK, the abundance of the species is declining; in the 1970s, 3–5 individuals were observed during a daily excursion, in the 1990s - no more than 2. The number of snakes in the SNP can reach 5 individuals per 2 km of the route; centers of density up to 10 specimens are less common. per 1 ha.Limiting factors
The direct destruction of these slow snakes by man and the intensive construction of resorts on Black Sea coast QC.Necessary and additional security measures
The species is protected on the territory of the SNP, a small part of the range is preserved in the KGPBZ. All dense habitats of the species in the SNP are recommended for inclusion in a specially protected zone. It is necessary to organize the Novorossiysk Reserve from Cape Bolshoy Utrish to Mount Papai in the east inclusive.Sources of information
1. Anan'eva et al., 2004; 2. Red Book of the Russian Federation, 2001; 3. Red Book of the USSR, 1984; 4. Tuniev B. S., 1989; 5. Tuniyev and Nilson, 1995; 6. Unpublished data of compilers.On the territory of the reserve "Utrish" lives rare view reptiles - Aesculapius snake.
The Aesculapian snake, or Aesculapian snake (Elaphe longissima) is the most famous species in the genus of climbing snakes, the number of which is currently declining.
The name of the most popular and elegant snake is associated with the names of the famous healer Asclepius, or Aesculapius, and his daughter Hygeia, also known as Panacea. The snake got its name from ancient god the healing of Aesculapius.
The legend says that one day a snake climbed onto the staff of Aesculapius. Frightened, Aesculapius killed the snake. Another snake crawled up to the dead woman and, with the help of an unknown herb, revived the dead woman.
Learning about healing properties herbs, the daughter of Aesculapius healed people from the most serious ailments that her father could not cope with.
In ancient painting, Aesculapius was depicted as an old man with a staff, around which a snake wrapped itself. Panacea is depicted with a snake drinking from a cup.
The snake drinking from the cup has become the emblem of medicine. The snake that crawled onto the staff was called the Aesculapius.
Zoologists believe that in some countries of Europe, the Aesculapius snake got thanks to the Roman conquerors. The Romans loved snakes and kept them in baths and baths.
Aesculapian snake is listed in the Red Book Russian Federation. In the Red Book of Vertebrates of Europe, it is included in the third list (species of European attention). It is under the protection of the Berne Convention.
The snakes do not pose a threat to humans, but they should be feared: they are aggressive, the bite is not fatal, but painful. Lesions are accompanied by edema and local hemorrhages.
On top, the snake is painted black or gray, with a mesh pattern. The ventral side of the snake is white or yellow, with small dark spots.
The head is single-colored from above, without spots. On the sides behind the mouth are unsharp whitish spots reaching to the back of the head. The tip of the muzzle is rounded.
narrow black stripe stretches from the corner of the eye to the corner of the mouth. There is a narrow vertical spot under the eye.
Juveniles are decorated with a pattern: four rows of dark spots run along the body, on the neck and nape there is a transverse strip, curved in the form of a Roman numeral V.
There are 21–23 rows of smooth scales on the body. The scales of the anterior half of the body are smooth, in the posterior half of the body they have weakly expressed ribs. Some scales have white edges, creating a fine mesh pattern.
The snake reaches a length of more than one and a half meters. The mountains rise up to 2000 meters above sea level.
Aesculapian snake is sensitive to temperature fluctuations. For housing chooses well-heated areas. The snake finds shelter in abandoned burrows of small mammals, tree hollows, rotten stumps, voids under stones, cracks in rocks, piles of brushwood.
In summer, the snake spends most of its time in the trees.
It rises almost vertically along tree trunks and rocky walls. In the forest, with extraordinary grace, it crawls along the branches from tree to tree. In case of danger, it climbs into blackberry thickets, burrows and natural voids in scree, heaps of brushwood.
The snake feeds on lizards, shrews, small rodents, bird eggs, adult birds. Prey pursues or lies in wait. It grabs its prey with its teeth and wraps itself around it with lightning speed. Then he strangles, squeezing the rings of his body.
In search of food, the snake examines holes and nests, climbs trees. A large prey digests for about four days.
The snake's enemies are birds of prey and mammals; there are known cases of owls attacking it.
The snake spends half a year in hibernation - from November to April. Heat-loving snakes appear after wintering in April - early May, a mass exit is noted in the last decade of May.
During the period of activity of the Aesculapius, the snake molts two or three times. During molting, it stops eating, sees poorly, tries to hide in a safe shelter.
The molt passes within a few hours. The snake gradually removes its old skin, which slips off like a stocking: first the head is released, then the body and tail. After molting, the snake has dark, as if polished scales and an elastic body. The shedding snake begins an active life again: it hunts for prey, feeds and accumulates fat reserves.
Laying of 4-10 eggs occurs in July. Young kites appear in September-early October. The first molt in young individuals occurs on the tenth day after birth.
Large sizes and slow movement make the Aesculapian snake easily vulnerable. Therefore, on the coast of the Abrau Peninsula, they most often die from humans.
ESKULAPOV POLOZ
Elaphe longissima
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VERTEBRATES - VERTEBRATA Squad: Serpents - Serpentes Family: Snakes - Colubridae Genus: Elaphe Laurenti, 1768 |
Description:Body length with tail up to 1400 mm. The dorsal side is olive-brown, more often lacquer-sulfur with a white mesh pattern. The belly is pearly white or grey, often egg-yellow in females. Juveniles are gray with 2 yellow oval occipital spots, traces of which are preserved in 30% of adults. On the upper surface of the body of juveniles there are often rounded black spots, which are not at all expressed in adults.
Spreading: The range of the species extends from the north-east. and east. Spain through central and south. Europe to the north half of Asia Minor and the Caucasus. In Russia, it is found in the foothill districts Krasnodar Territory from r. Psou to the environs of Novorossiysk in the north-west, where the range of the species crosses to the north. slope of the Greater Caucasus and stretches along the foothills to Adygea.
Habitat:It rises to mountains up to 700 m above sea level, inhabits mixed broadleaf forests with evergreen undergrowth, near-river polydominant forests, hornbeams, ecotones of beech and oak forests, tea plantations, hazelnut plantations, post-forest glades. A heat-loving species that appears after wintering in early April-early May. Mating in mid-June. Laying 4-10 eggs in July. Young appear in September-early October. They leave for wintering at the end of October, in the vicinity of Sochi they can be found until the beginning of December. It feeds on mouse-like rodents, shrews, birds, their chicks and eggs.
Number:The species has disappeared in a number of districts of Adygea, on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory it is still common in places, but is steadily declining in numbers. The density of populations fell everywhere: in districts where in the 80s. met 3-5 individuals per day, in the late 90s. no more than 2 snakes were noted. The species is practically absent on the territory Caucasian Reserve, most of the range is located in the zone of intensive agricultural and recreational development on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. The slow movements of the snakes are the reason for their predominance among the killed snakes in the vicinity of Sochi-Tuapse. The number is also declining due to trapping by terrariumists.
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Sources:1. Tuniev, 1985; 2. Red Book of the USSR, 1984; 3. Tuniev, 1987; 4. Tuniev, 1989; 5. Tuniev et al., 1988 Compiled by: B.S. Tuniev |
