European cat snake
| European cat snake | |
|---|---|
| |
| Telescopus fallax from Malta | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Telescopus |
| Species: | T. fallax
|
| Binomial name | |
| Telescopus fallax (Fleischmann, 1831)
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
The European cat snake (Telescopus fallax), also known as the Mediterranean cat snake, is a venomous colubrid snake endemic to the Mediterranean and Caucasus regions.
Geographic range
[edit]The European cat snake is found in Italy, Greece (Paros, Antiparos, Tourlos, Crete, Kalymnos, Samos, Milos, Corfu), Albania, coastal Slovenia, Croatia (including some Adriatic islands), Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, southern Bulgaria, Turkey, Malta, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, southern Russia (Caucasus region), Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.
Ecology and Biology
[edit]The European cat snake is venomous, but because it is rear-fanged (fangs are located at the back of the upper jaw), but venom can still be injected when biting if a body part is deep enough to attempt to swallow. Its venom is not very effective against humans. It feeds mainly on geckos, lizards, and other snakes.[2]
The species can be found in open and scrubby country including beaches and open woodlands. The species also inhabits mountainous areas.[1][2]
European cat snakes can reach a length of up to 100cms.[2]
Subspecies
[edit]5 subspecies are currently recognized.[3]
- Telescopus fallax cyprianus (Barbour & Amaral, 1927) - Cyprus
- Telescopus fallax fallax (Fleischmann, 1831) - Northeastern Italy, Greece (Paros, Mykonos, Antiparos, Crete, Kalymnos, Samos, Kimolos, Milos, Corfu, Syros), Albania, coastal Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, southern Bulgaria, Turkey, Malta, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, southern Russia, Armenia, Republic of Georgia, and Azerbaijan.
- Telescopus fallax iberus (Eichwald, 1831) - Armenia, Azerbaijan, South Georgia, southern Russia, northern Iran, and East Turkey.
- Telescopus fallax pallidus (Stepanek, 1944) - Crete, Gavdos, Elasa and Christiana Islands.
- Telescopus fallax syriacus (Boettger, 1880) - Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, southeast Turkey and northern Israel.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Aram Agasyan; Aziz Avci; Boris Tuniyev; Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic; Petros Lymberakis; Claes Andrén; Dan Cogalniceanu; John Wilkinson; Natalia Ananjeva; Nazan Üzüm; et al. (2009). "Telescopus fallax". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T157258A5062870. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T157258A5062870.en. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ a b c Geniez, Philippe. Snakes of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East: A Photographic Guide. Princeton University Press. pp. 191, 193–194. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ "Telescopus fallax".
Further reading
[edit]- Arnold EN, Burton JA. 1978. A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. London: Collins. 272 pp. + Plates 1–40.
ISBN 0-00-219318-3. (Telescopus fallax, pp. 207–210 + Plate 38, Figures 4a, 4b + Map 120). - Fleischmann FL. 1831. Dalmatiae Nova Serpentum Genera. Erlangen, Germany: C. Heyder. 35 pp. (Tarbophis fallax, new species, p. 18).
External links
[edit]
- Video of Telescopus fallax on YouTube
- Video of Telescopus fallax on YouTube
- Movement of Telescopus fallax on YouTube
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