New records of four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata) in Natura 2000 site Slovenska Istra (SI3000212)

Headnote

Prejeto / Received: 30.10.2010

Sprejeto / Accepted: 5.11.2010

Abstract. The article presents new records of ten specimens (one juvenile, one subadult and eight snake sheddings) of four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata) recorded in a period between May 2002 and March 2011 on seven locations in Natura 2000 site Slovenska Istra (SI3000212). In some locations, the species was observed several times. Data show successful reproduction within the abovementioned Natura 2000 site.

Key words: reptiles, snakes, colubrid snakes, Colubridae, four-lined snake, Elaphe quatuorlineata, distribution, reproduction, Natura 2000, Slovenia

Izvlecek. NOVE NAJDBE PROGASTEGA GOZA (ELAPHE QUATUORLINEATA) V OBMOCJU NATURA 2000 SLOVENSKA ISTRA (SI3000212) - V clanku so opisane nove najdbe desetih osebkov (juvenilni in subadultni osebek ter osem kacjih levov) progastega goza (Elaphe quatuorlineata) s sedmih lokacij v obmocju Natura 2000 Slovenska Istra (SI3000212), zabelezene med majem 2002 in marcem 2011. Na nekaterih lokacijah je bila vrsta veckrat opazena. Podatki potrjujejo uspesno razmnozevanje vrste v omenjenem obmocju Nature 2000.

Kljucne besede: plazilci, kace, gozi, Colubridae, progasti goz, Elaphe quatuorlineata, razsirjenost, razmnozevanje, Natura 2000, Slovenija

In Slovenia, the four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata) reaches the northernmost limit of its distribution (Kreiner 2007). Historical finds are known from Robic, Sempeter near Nova Gorica and from the border area with Italy (Tome 1996, Bressi et al. 2004). Records on occurrence of the four-lined snake in the country published in the last 30 years are rare and confined to the Slovenian part of Istria (Skornik 1985, Skornik 1989, Verovnik 1995, Planinc 1997, Bressi et al. 2004, Cafuta 2005, KPSS 2008, Krofel et al. 2009). The species is protected by Decree on protected wild animal species and is considered an endangered species (Rules on the inclusion of endangered plant and animal species in the Red List, 2002). It is also protected by the Bern Convention (Annex II) and the EC Habitats directive (Annexes II and IV). In Slovenia, the only Natura 2000 site that includes four-lined snake is Slovenska Istra (SI3000212).

During the reptile survey in Natura 2000 site Slovenska Istra in a period between May 2002 and March 2011, new finds of the four-lined snake were recorded. Accurate locations are not given due to conservation reasons. Material was identified with identification keys (Tome 1999, Arnold 2002) and by comparing material from snake shedding collection kept by the author of this article. Measurements of the carcass and live animal are given below. In live specimens, errors are possible due to movements.

New records:

* Bric (UTM square VL03). Material: 1 poorly preserved snake shedding of adult found on 14.08.2008, leg. & det. V. Cafuta.

* Kostabona (UTM square VL03). Material: live subadult found on 31.05.2008 (Fig. 1), leg. & det. G. Planinc. Snout-vent length = 88 cm, tail length = 23 cm.

* Labor (UTM square VL03). Material: altogether 3 poorly preserved snake sheddings of adult animals found on 26.08.2006, 18.08.2007 and 24.05.2008; leg. V. Cafuta & G. Planinc, det. V. Cafuta. Due to poorly preserved material, it is not possible to determine whether sheddings belong to one or more individuals. Comment: first find of a well preserved snake shedding in this location dates from 20.07.2004 (Cafuta 2005).

* Puce (UTM square UL93). Material: 1 poorly preserved snake shedding of adult found on 01.04.2007, leg. & det. V. Cafuta.

* Stena near Dragonja (UTM square UL93). Material: 1 poorly preserved snake shedding of adult animal found on 11.05.2002, leg. & det. G. Planinc; 1 snake shedding of juvenile found on 22.07.2010 (Fig. 2), leg. Anonymous, det. A. Dall'Asta & V. Cafuta. Comment: previous finds of adult animals in this location date from 19.03.1983 (T. Trilar, pers. comm.), June 1983 (Skornik 1985) and April 1994 (Verovnik 1995, R. Verovnik, pers. comm.), snake sheddings (not preserved) found on 30.07.1996 (Planinc 1997) and on 05.07.1997 (G. Planinc & T. Brstilo, pers. comm.).

* Sv. Peter (UTM square UL93). Material: Carcass of road-killed juvenile animal found on 07.04.2007 (Fig. 3), leg. & det. G. Planinc & V. Cafuta. Snout-vent length = 28.6 cm, tail length = 6.8 cm.

* Sv. Stefan (UTM square UL93). Material: 1 poorly preserved snake shedding of subadult or adult animal found on 10.03.2011, leg. M. Silan, E. Ostanek & T. Jagar, det. E. Ostanek. Comment: previous find in this location is mentioned in Skornik (1989).

The carcass and snake sheddings are kept by the author of this article. Finds of juvenile (carcass and shedding) and subadult are the first documented proofs of reproduction of the species in Slovenia.

Locations of finds are distributed on the slopes and in the plain of the Dragonja river valley with tributaries. According to the results of the reptile survey in years 2007, 2008 and 2010, conducted by G. Planinc and V. Cafuta (G. Planinc & V. Cafuta, unpublished data), it can be concluded that the four-lined snake is a rare or very elusive snake species in Natura 2000 site Slovenska Istra. However, older and recent data show that the species successfully reproduces within the region and has been observed several times on some locations.

Additional field work should be carried out in the future to acquire detailed knowledge on distribution of the four-lined snake not just in Natura 2000 site Slovenska Istra, but elsewhere as well. Monitoring should be established soon.

Povzetek

Podatki o pojavljanju progastega goza (Elaphe quatuorlineata) v Sloveniji so redki in v zadnjih 30 letih omejeni izkljucno na obmocje slovenskega dela Istre. Med majem 2002 in marcem 2011 je bilo med popisom plazilcev v obmocju Natura 2000 Slovenska Istra na sedmih lokacijah zabelezenih deset najdb progastega goza (juvenilni in subadultni osebek ter osem kacjih levov). Natancne lokacije niso podane zaradi naravovarstvenih razlogov. Na Bricu je bil najden en kacji lev dne 14.08.2008, v Kostaboni en subadultni osebek dne 31.05.2008 (dolzina telesa brez repa je znasala 88 cm, dolzina repa 23 cm), v Laborju trije kacji levi dne 26.08.2006, 18.08.2007 in 24.05.2008, v Pucah en kacji lev dne 01.04.2007, v Steni pri Dragonji kacji lev odraslega osebka dne 11.05.2002 in lev juvenilnega osebka 22.07.2010, v Sv. Petru povozen juvenilni osebek dne 07.04.2007 (dolzina telesa brez repa je znasala 28,6 cm, dolzina repa 6,8 cm) ter pri Sv. Stefanu en kacji lev dne 10.03.2011. Najdbe juvenilnih in subadultnih osebkov so prvi dokumentirani dokaz uspesnega razmnozevanja vrste v Sloveniji. Lokacije najdb so v dolini reke Dragonje s pritoki ter na pobocjih, ki se vzpenjajo nad dolino. Vrsta je v omenjenem obmocju Nature 2000 redka oziroma zelo tezko zaznavna in se uspesno razmnozuje. Z nekaterih lokacij so znana redna opazanja vrste. Najdeni kacji levi ter kadaver so v hrambi pri avtorici tega clanka.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Grisa Planinc, Mirko Silan, Erika Ostanek, Tomaz Jagar, Tanja Brstilo, Dr Tomi Trilar, and Dr Rudi Verovnik for permitting me to publish their data. I am also grateful to Tomaz Jagar and Erika Ostanek for donating the shedding of a juvenile from Stena to the snake shedding collection and to Andrea Dall'Asta for his immense help with identifying this particular shedding.

References

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