Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 36/1. (2016)

Zoology

Preliminary study regarding the distribution, biology and ecology ofNatrix tesselata (Laurenti 1768) in the Republic of Moldova

Sex Values L.tot. L.head+L.body. L.cd. w S.v. S.cd. Sq

______________________(mm)_________(mm)_________(mm)____________(g)_______

$ Max. 103-3_________8T5__________ljh8_________240.8_________180 64 19

Min. 72.2_________57V_________Ш_________61.54_________153 51 19

__________Med. 87.2±7.8 71.1±6.6 16.Ы.2 145.5±52.7 168 60 19

Whole Max. 103.3_________5A5__________Ш_________240.8_________180 73 19

sample Min. 43.2_________43V_________105_________25.75_________153 51 19

_______ Average. 76.6±8.7 61.3±7.7 15.3±1.3 98.2±46.8 170 65 19

Preocular shields are ranged from 2 to 4, superior labial ones — from 7 to 9, while inferior labial from 7 to 11 shields.

The coloration of snakes is quite varied. On the back dice snake from researched area can have a greyish green background with black spots or black or white, rarely these spots generally are lacking (Photo 1). On the abdomen white spots are alternated with black or pink, red, orange and black (Photo 2).

Photo 1: Variations of back coloration in the species Natrix tessellata.

Photo 2: Variations of abdomen coloration in the species Natrix tessellata.

In habitats of dice snake in the central and northern part of republic rocky slopes are present, and in the southern part of republic - clay and sandy-clay slopes.

As hibernation burrows snakes use the cracks naturally formed between the blocks of stones, or between layers of clay and rarely the gaps formed at trees root rot (Photo 3).

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