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

Zoology

Vlad POSTOLACHI, Vladimir TSURCAN, Nicolae ZUBCOV

Photo 3: Hibernation dens of dice snake near Gura Bicului

The slopes with hibernation dens in the most cases are exposed to the south, southeast or southwest (Fig. 2). In hibernation dens from several up to hundreds of specimens can overwinter, depending on their ability. Hibernation groups are made up of females, males and juveniles. According to our observations males are the first that leave the hibernation dens.

The earliest appearance of the dice snake after hibernation was registered on 5 April 2005 (Gura Bicului) and the last registration before hibernation - 25 September of the same year (Giurgiulesti). In the first days after hibernating the snakes are less active, stay longer beside den and do sunbath, when being disturbed they hide back into burrows. In the first weeks of activity snakes still do not feed. After the first or second week after hibernating, snakes began to

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Fig. 2: The distribution of wintering gallery in dependence of the biotope exposure