Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 36/1. (2016)
Zoology
PRELIMINARY STUDY REGARDING THE DISTRIBUTION, BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF NATRIX TESSELATA (LAURENTI 1768) IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA Vlad POSTOLACHI, Vladimir TSURCAN, Nicolae ZUBCOV Institute of Zoology of Academy of Sciences Moldova, 1, Academiei str., 2044 Chijinäu, MD 2044, Republic of Moldova, e-mail: vpostolachi@rambler.ru Abstract: The actual distribution of the species Natrix tessellata in Republic of Moldova was studied. The favorite sites of species and wintering dens’ location were analyzed. It was estimated the density of snakes in different populations and it was analyzed the biometric and morphological peculiarities. The basic trophic objects and the main factors of disturbance were highlighted. Keywords: Natrix tessellata, distribution, biology, ecology. Introduction Dice snake (Natrix tessellata) is a rheophilous species of medium size, which spreads to West of South- Western of France and Eastern of North Africa, through Central and South Europe, at South reaching up to the Persian Gulf, at East until Afghanistan, West Pakistan, North-West of India and Western of China. The northern limit of the area of dice snake is framed between 49—53° parallels north latitude. In Republic of Moldova, the spread area of the species coincides with the meadows of Dniester and Prut Rivers and their tributaries, water snake being also reported in the Cahul River floodplain. The rocks, clay and sandy-clay slopes, sometimes covered with rare vegetation, near water basins are favorite for Natrix tessellata. It can be met also around standing water basins located in the floodplain of rivers. Materials and methods A number of 98 specimens, ofwhich 54 males and 5 juveniles were captured and examined. The classical research methods were used. Determining the species was carried out using the identification keys according to Banikov, Darevskii and Fuhn [ 1, 2]. In population nuclei it was studied the density of specimens at 1 km of route using transects method. The captured specimens were studied and biometric parameters such as body and tail length, body mass have been taken. For the analysis of folidozis the abdominal shield number, rows number of dorsal and subcaudal scales, head scales were counted. In populations from Trebujeni and Gura Bicului the sex ratio was also studied. In some specimens the stomach content was extracted by palpation method and caused vomiting, then the food bowl was analyzed. At capture places of specimens the biotope conditions were described. During the investigations no specimen was killed [3, 4]. M ARI S I A, XXXVI, p. 109-116
