Biology and conservation of the species Zamenis situla in Catania. Giorgio Russo

Transcription

1 UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI CATANIA Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences Bachelor degree in Environmental and Natural Sciences Giorgio Russo Biology and conservation of the species Zamenis situla in Catania Supervisor: Prof. Giorgio Sabella Correlator: Mr. Fabio Grosso

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4 INDEX 1. INTRODUCTION General informations on Zamenis situla MATERIALS AND METHODS Introduction Retrieving the subjects The terrariums The cures Feeding The observation methodology The card model The map RESULTS The cards...11 Subject n Subject n Subject n Subject n 4 and n The mapping of findings and reports CONCLUSIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY SITOGRAPHY... 36

5 1. INTRODUCTION The study was carried out at the Wildlife Recovery Centre in Belpasso (Catania Italy) managed by the Sicilian Fund for Nature, and had as its main objective the analysis of the main causes of disturbance to the species Zamenis situla in urban area of the city of Catania. 1.1 General information on Zamenis situla Zamenis situla (Linnaeus, 1758) is an ophidian belonging to the Colubridae family, formerly attributed to the genus Elaphe and currently headed to the genus Zamenis as a result of studies conducted by Utiger (Utiger et al., 2002). It is commonly referred to as "leopard snake" because of his livery which, in most cases, is characterized by patches ranging from orange to brick red, on a ochre background with shades of grey and hazel. Taxonomic notes: In the italian territory, it has three different phenotypic varieties: "striped" (fig. 1), "patchy" (fig. 2) or with joint design between the two previous versions (fig. 3). In the past, the different design of the livery was interpreted as diagnostic of two subspecies: Zamenis situla situla, with the striped pattern, and Zamenis situla leopardina, with the patchy pattern (Bonaparte, 1833).The species is currently considered monotypic (Obst et al., 1993; Sofianidou, 1997; Turrisi & Vaccaro 1998; Turrisi & Vaccaro 2004a; Turrisi & Vaccaro 2004b; Venchi & Sindaco, 2006; Turrisi, 2008) and the two phenotypes are found even within the same population (Pozio & Frisenda, 1980; Turrisi & Vaccaro 1998; Turrisi & Vaccaro 2004a). In Puglia the "situla" phenotype frequency is of about 50% on the Adriatic coast, while in the other Italian populations the"leopardina" phenotype is the most common (Bruno 1969; Bruno 1970; Lanza, 1987; Turrisi & Vaccaro 1998;Turrisi & Vaccaro 2004a; Turrisi & Vaccaro 2004b; Scillitani et al., 2006). The number of ventral scales, called gastrostegi, varies from 222 to 250, while the subcaudals, urostegi, range from 72 to 108 (Vaccaro, in verbis). 1

6 Figure 1. Patchy livery of copy n 2 Figure 2. Striped livery of copy n 4 Figure 3. Example of a mixed phenotype livery 2

7 The species' dimorphic features are the proportion between the length of the body measured from snout to the vent SVL and the tail length TL, and the different amounts of ventral scales, larger in females, and subcaudals, more numerous in males (Rugiero, Capizzi & Luiselli, 1998). The average length, in both sexes, does not exceed the meter. Chorology: the species chorology is transionic and it is reported in: Southern Italy, Malta, Dalmatia and Dalmatian Islands, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Evia Island, southern Bulgaria, Western Turkey, Crimea, the Ionian Islands, the islands of Kythira and Crete, Sporades, Cyclades, Sporades, southern Sporades, Rhodes. Its presence in Istria, Slovenia and the Caucasus requires confirmation (Obst et al., 1993). In Italy is present in Puglia, Basilicata and Sicily, while recent reports are missing for Calabria. The sicilian spread of this species is confined to the eastern and southern sectors of the island; the larger populations are located on the Hyblaean mountains. Habitat: the species prefers rocky and open environments as glades with a scrub or Garrigue vegetation. It is also found frequently in anthropogenic environments represented by various types of crops, including citrus and olive groves, in parks, urban and suburban gardens, and even in towns. In Catania, in fact, the species is discreetly present in the old part of the city (Turrisi & Vaccaro 1998; Turrisi & Vaccaro 2004a; Rannisi & Turrisi, 2006). It also lives in forest environments, primarily deciduous ones like quercine forests. The altitudinal range of Zamenis situla in Sicily is moderately large and mainly comprehends the coastal- hilly area with some stations positioned at about 800 m.a.s.l.. The maximum elevation on the island has been ensured to 830 m.a.s.l., at Monte Lauro in the Hyblaean mountains (Turrisi, 2008). Biology : the species is diurnal and primarily and has a period of activity ranging from March to mid November, with a peak between May and June. It can be seen in activity also in winter during particularly hot days. At times, the snake can be observed even at night and twilight. This species is oviparous, and the female lays 2 to 8 eggs (Reicholf & Diesener, 1986; Abram & Menegon, 1994) quite large in proportion to the body of the mother. The development takes about two months, and hatching occurs between August and September (Grüber, 1992) and juveniles are born of approximately 30 cm. 3

8 Diet: During the juvenile phase it feeds off small lizards and insects, and prefers small mammals in the adult stage (Vaccaro, in verbis). Preys are killed by constriction. Predators: diurnal birds of prey and mammals, young may be preyed upon by other Colubrid snakes. Trend of European populations: apparently stable. In Sicily, the species is considered as not subject to risk, however the limited regional spread and at the taking of specimens for commercial purposes and/or collectibles represent critical aspects for the protection of species, as well as the frequent killing by the population because of unfounded fear. Conservation and Protection Issues: species listed in: - Annex II to the Berne Convention; - annexes II and IV to the Italian Habitat Directive 93/42. Rated status LC (Least Concern) on the European Red list of Reptiles, by IUCN 2014 and the Red list of Italian Vertebrates (2013). Lo Valvo (1998), in the red list of Sicilian Reptiles, does not consider it an endangered species. The main risk factors are represented by collections, from direct killings, from intensification of agricultural practices and the presence of man on the territory. 4

9 2. Materials and methods 2.1 Introduction The study examined 5 specimens of Zamenis situla (2 still alive, 3 dead) all found within the territory of the city of Catania. All specimens have been found thanks to citizens sightings and, once collected, they were transferred to Wildlife Recovery Center (WRC) in Valcorrente- Belpasso. Here, each sample was placed in a terrarium, subjected to the necessary care and subsequently followed and nurtured regularly. Follows a more detailed analysis of each of the phases mentioned above. 2.2 Retrieving the subjects The WRC collaborates with city institutions (firefighters, police, etc.) in regard to all cases of wildlife finds in Catania. In most cases, the reports are made by citizens to the authorities who then contacts the WRC. In the particular case of the reports examined by the study, they were all received by the local fire brigade. Once on the site, we proceeded to the collection of testimonies of the witness, if present, and the operators present on the site, so as to facilitate the identification of the specimen. All subjects were collected manually with the use of latex gloves to ensure the sterility of the contact. The capture has not presented special difficulties because the snakes in question appeared in all cases numb, stunned, or very weak. Once picked, the sample was placed in a jute bag so that it could be transported to WRC. The choice of a transport bag rather than a temporary terrarium was taken because the former offers more surface contact with the animal which in turn relaxes feeling sheltered and hidden. In addition, the use of jute as transport material allows air circulation inside the bag and allows the animal to ventilate. 2.3 The terrariums The recovered specimens, once transported to the reptilarium within the WRC, after first aid treatment (see paragraph 4) were transferred to different size terrariums depending on the size of the specimen in question. The structure itself had large wooden terrarium of 120x52x80 cm, with glass sliding doors. Since these were thought too dispersive environments for effective observation of subjects, the space inside a 5

10 terrarium has been broken down into smaller environments through the use of smaller terrariums and fauna- boxes (fig. 4 and 5). Figure 4 and 5. Arrangement of fauna boxes inside the wooden terrarium. As mentioned above, the choice of the terrarium to each ophidian was made considering the size of the same. Within each environment has been put a white sheet of paper which ran both a toilet function and was a good contrast base for easy identification of any ectoparasites found on or detached from the specimen (see paragraph 4). Later, a bowl containing water was placed in too. The achievement of optimal conditions of light and temperature has been obtained by inserting a plate containing a 70 watt cablet and a 30 watt bulb light inside the larger environment, namely the wooden terrarium. Photoperiod was established thanks to the help of a timer, giving 12 hours of light and 12 of night (from 8.00 a.m. to p.m. ). 6

11 2.4 The cures The treatments carried out on specimens of leopard snake can be divided into two phases: - First aid care. - Secondary care. The first aid care are interventions on the specimen, prior to insertion of the same inside the terrarium. These usually involve the removal of ectoparasites and the dressing of wounds and obvious trauma. In the case of the specimens in question, only the first intervention was necessary because all the subjects had no ectopasites and not obvious injuries. For secondary care are intended longer- term interventions which aimed to complete recovery of the specimen. The need for these interventions emerges from the results of routine analysis that is conducted on each new animal transferred to WRC (i.e. examination of feces). These interventions can be of various types, in this thesis however only the removal of parasites will be considered because only this was necessary on 3 of 5 specimens (especially on 2, 4 and 5). For the elimination of parasitosis, once known the type of parasite, which was Nematode Roundworm in all cases mentioned above, the next step was the administration of Ascarilen (Levamisol hydrochloride). This medicine is available on the market in two forms: pills or in vials for injection. Considering the size of the species recovered, it was preferred to proceed with inoculation by injection. The administrations performed were two, one at the beginning of the observation period and one 15 days later in order to allow a more reliable pest removal. All the above operations have been carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian, or by himself. 2.5 Feeding The food given to the subjects of study were prey from the breeding of Mus musculus and Rauttus norvegicus associated with the reptilarium of the WRC. Chapter 3 tabs show detailed characteristics of prey and the way of administration for each specimen. 7

12 2.6 The observation methodology The observation period lasted from 1/3/2015 to 2/20/2015. In each session the routine observation was as follows: - Visual inspection of the stadium of the specimen (determine his activities, detect if it is moulting, etc.). - Cleaning and changing the substrate and cleaning the terrarium, if necessary. - Replenishment of the water inside the terrarium. - Administration of food. - Further observations to detect any abnormal behaviour. 2.7 The card model In order to process the results a unique model of card has been created, which allows to write down data of each specimen at the time of capture. Its scheme is represented as follows. 8

13 SUBJECT N. - Picture of the subject Picture of the place of discovery Sex Age Phenotype Condition of entry Place of discovery Length Weight

14 2.8 The map All the data in the possession of WRC regarding reports, sightings and recoveries of the leopard snake in the city of Catania were collected. These data, once geo- referenced, led to the creation of a map that collects all sightings pertaining to the year 2014 (from January 1st, 2014 to December 31st, 2014) in the city of Catania. 10

15 3. RESULTS 3.1 The cards. SUBJECT N 1. Sex Age Phenotype Condition of entry Place of discovery Length Weight Female About 3 years Patchy Likely neurological trauma Via Enrico Campisano 55.9 cm 40 g 11

16 The observation of subject n 1 lasted a month and during the observations it was possible to spot a peculiar behavior. It was not possible to confirm any kind of diagnosis, since only an autopsy could provide some answers. However, a neurological problem has been suspected caused by trauma, likely as a result of a blow from a citizen. The animal has been placed inside a plastic "Ferplast" terrarium of 30x17x20 cm (fig. 6). The substrate, at first made of paper towels, was then replaced with sawdust. The subject shown a curvature of the head of about 15 to the axis of the body, which was maintained during all actions carried out by the snake (fig. 7). Movements were uncoordinated and random, and the apex of this disability was revealed when the siubject, after a short vertical ascent, moved for a few seconds upside down and then returned to the customary position with the belly resting on the substrate (fig. 8). Figure 6. Terrarium containing the subject n 1. 12

17 Figure 7. Abnormal head angle to the axis of the body subject n 1 Figure 8. Subject n 1 that moves upside down 13

18 The animal, at the beginning of the observation period, was unable to feed by itslef and was therefore necessary to hand feed it (fig. 9). The meal to administer to this subject was prepared from young specimens of Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus. These once sacrificed through suffocation caused by ether, were purposely cut to pieces. The hand feeding procedure was executed with only the aid of latex gloves. In order to facilitate the animal s deglutition, the limb was dampened by immersing it in water. Then, the subject was inducted to open its mouth gently pushing the limb to its snouth with increasingly strong pressure. Once the subject bit the limb, the latter was gently pushed inside the esophagus for a short lenght. Figure 9. The subject n 1 ingests a mouthful after being helped for hand feeding. Food, regularly administered once a week, always consisted in hind legs of Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus. Another consequence of the possible neurological trauma is the inability of the animal to orientate and the incapability reaching the water source. In fact, whenever the snake has entered in contact with water, whether casually or through help, the animal has always drunk, but again not with ordinary movements. Considered this, the container of water which was put in the terrarium was one of limited depth so as to prevent 14

19 the accidental drowning of the subject. Another note of interest was the total harmlessness of the subject, especially if it considered that the species is very bity and aggressive with attackers, especially if born in the wild. The ability of moulting and reproduction of the subject are being evaluated, in order to have a complete overview of the damage suffered by this snake. After a month of observation a new measuring and weighing of the serpent was made and it brought the following results: Initial length (cm) Final length (cm) Total growth (cm) Initial weight (g) Final weight (g) Total growth (g) Comparing the total growth in weight and length with the number of meals provided regularly (once a week, for 7 weeks) we can extrapolate growth rates per meal "X length " and "X weight : X!"#$!! = X!"#$!! = Total growth 0,6 cm = = 0,08 cm Number of meals 7 Total growth Number of meals = 4 cm = 0,57 cm 7 We can also get the percentage of growth in weight "Z W% " and length "Z L& ", through the simple proportions: Final weight 100 = Total growth Z!% ; Z!% = Total growth Final weight 100 ; Z!% = 4 g 44 g 100 = 9,09% 15

20 Final lenght 100 = Total growth Z!% ; Z!% = Total growth Final lenght 100 ; Z!% = 0,6 cm 56,5 cm 100 = 1,06 % 16

21 SUBJECT N 2 Sex Age Phenotype Condition of entry Place of discovery Length Weight Female 2 years Patchy Parasitism by nematodes Viale Marco Polo 48.5 cm 30 g 17

22 As for the sample n 1, also monitoring the subject no. 2 lasted about a month. At the time of recovery, this animal was probably parasitized by nematodes, roundworms in particular (however the genus or species of parasites could not be traced back to). The animal was placed in a fauna- box "Ferplast" of 44x16x27 cm and the bottom, at first consisting of blotting paper, has later been replaced with sawdust (fig. 10). The medicine provided for the administration was Ascarilen (levamisol hydrochloride), a fairly common medicine in usage within the scope of parasitic diseases. Because of the parasites, the snake in question appeared thin and debilitated, hence the decision to prevent lethargy and continue the administration of prey. Once eliminated the disease, attention has been catalyzed on nutrition. The choice of prey and the mode of administration was made considering the size and wild nature of subject n 2; snakes are dodgy in general, but the species Zamenis situla is expecially so. Prey consisted in newborns of Mus musculus which were sommistred alive, two in number for each meal. These were each time left inside the terrarium and subsequently eaten by the subject in conditions of absence of disturbance. The subject has never eaten spontaneously in the presence of observers. The snake has almost immediately taken up muscle tone and has restored completely. Other ethological interesting traits were high viciousness of the subject and the almost immediate secretion of feces and urine as defense tactic during handling. However, another behavior deserves special attention. Starting from when it was healthy again, the subject was found inside the water container, (which in this case was a bottle- bottom 4 cm high) completely underwater (fig. 11). At the beginning, we suspected that this behavior could be due to a too high temperature provided inside of the terrarium or a low ambient humidity. But in subsequent observations, it has been possible to observe how the animal is to move in water as soon it detected the presence of observers. Hence the assumption that this subject used water as a hideout or as possible escape route from predators. Nevertheless, there is to consider that there were no other types of shelter in the terrarium (whether wood, tiles or whatever the species usually use), and that therefore this behavioural trait is forced by environmental conditions resulting from captivity. It is however important to notice that this type of behavior has never been reported in literature for Zamenis situla. This hypothesis is still under investigation and will be verified using a greater amount of data relating to several specimens in different conditions. 18

23 After a month of observation a new measuring and weighing of the serpent was made and it brought the following results: Initial length (cm) Final length (cm) Growth (cm) Initial weight (g) Final weight (g) Growth (g) Comparing the total growth in weight and length with the number of meals provided regularly (once a week, for 7 weeks) you can extrapolate growth rates for meal "X length " and "X weight : X!"#$!! = Total growth 3,6 cm = = 0,51 cm Number of meals 7 X!"#$!! = Total growth 12 g = = 1,7 g Number of meals 7 We can also get the percentage of growth in weight "Z W% " and length "Z L& ", through the simple proportions: Final weight 100 = Total growth Z!% ; Z!% = Z!% = Total growth Final weight 100 ; 12 g 42 g 100 = 28,5% 19

24 Final lenght 100 = Total growth Z!% ; Z!% = Z!% = Total growth Final lenght 100 ; 3,6 cm 52,1 cm 100 = 6,9 % 20

25 Figure 10. Fauna- box containing subject n 2 Figure 11. Subject n 2 wrapped and completely immersed in its water bowl. 21

26 SUBJECT N 3 Sex Age Phenotype Condition of entry Place of discovery Length Weight Female N.R. Patchy Swelling of the body around vent position Via Cifali N.R. N.R. 22

27 Subject n 3 had a swelling of the body in the vent area, at about three- quarters of the length of its body (fig. 11). Figure 11. Details of the cloacal area which show swelling of the body in that stretch. Before any kind of decision on which care to be adopted could be made, just a few days after the capture, the sample has died. Later, after being kept for a few days in a freezer to prevent decomposition, an autopsy was performed, at the studio of veterinary dr. Salvatore Ronsisvalle. Data and conclusions produced by this operation are the following: 1) the animal shown no signs of trauma such as wounds and didn t miss any part of its body (fig. 12). Figure 12. Subject n 3 on work table with all the tools needed for th autopsy. 2) Intestines were completely empty and had no trace of ingested food. In addition, the skin was very thin and the animal appears emacieted (fig. 13). 23

28 Figure 13. Detail of intestines. 3) there are no parasites or remnants of them in the area of the swelling, but the dark staining of the tissue suggests a possible rupture of blood vessels (fig. 14). Figure 14. Particular of the area of the colon that appears darker than surrounding tissues. 4) heart shows no signs of heart attacks. (fig. 15). 24

29 Figure 15. Detail of the heart. All these evindece led to the diagnosis provided the vet was of a likely colitis (possibly induced by something from animals ingesting dead), which led to a septicaemia. The production of gas, as a result of fermentation, has expanded up the tissues of the colon area which at some point broke. This caused an hemorrage in the colon, which spread the infection elsewhere in the body, causing the death of the snake. 25

30 SUBJECT N 4 AND N 5. Just like subject n 2, subjects n 4 and n 5 were recovered suffering a parasitic infection by roundworms, not specifically indicated in the registry entry of the WRC. It was not possible to make observations on the specimens as they died a few days after the capture. The data reported here were obtained through the consultation of the entry registry. SUBJECT N 4 Sex Age Phenotype Condition of entry Place of discovery Length Weight Male N.R. Striped Parasitism by nematodes Via Principe Nicola 88.5 cm 104 g 26

31 SUBJECT N 5 Photo by Fabio Grosso Sex Age Phenotype Condition of entry Place of discovery Length Weight Male N.R. Spots Parasitism by nematodes Ascaris Via Francesco Rice 89.9 cm 90 g 27

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33 3.2 The mapping of findings and reports. During the inspections and when receiving reports, the GPS location of each place was acquired. These data, once processed and put into the open source platform "Google Maps", have provided a significant mapping of the different positions obtained (fig. 23). The distribution of positions suggests a homogeneous presence of the species in the area of the city of Catania. Moreover, it is not surprising that the finding sites are all located in close proximity to green spaces within the city. Follow the images obtained through the use of another open source program, Google Earth, which underline the relationship between the findings and the green areas of the city of Catania (fig ). Figure 16. Largo Aquileia Figure 17. Via Cifali Figure 18. Via Filippo Corridoni Figure 19. Via Francesco Riso 29

34 Figure 20. Via Enrico Campisano Figure 21. Viale Marco Polo Figure 22. Via Principe Nicola 30

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36 Figure 23. Map of sightings of Zamenis situla in the city of Catania (from Google maps, modified). 32

37 4. CONCLUSIONS The data, although not particularly abundant and taking into account the behavior of the species and its dodgy nature, confirm its frequency, already known in the literature for Zamenis situla in the area of the historical city centre of Catania. The fact that sightings have occurred in proximity of green areas, may indicate the importance of maintaining such spaces, which are currently in strong decrease within the urban fabric, so that the protection of this species which is of communitary interest could be granted. It is interesting to note that all the reports refer to subjects with more or less serious health issues and we could assume that in the absence of those, no subject would be recovered or even found. The work has also enabled to development of a standard methodology for data tracking, with the elaboration of a special card, which will allow in the future to prepare a data- base for the understanding of some aspects of the biology of this species and to the provision of appropriate safeguards. Finally, observations conducted on captive specimens have shown a behavior not yet reported in literature relative to the species Zamenis situla, probably due to an elusive strategy, which could be confirmed by further studies. 33

38 BIBLIOGRAPHY Abram S. & Menegon M., 1994 Vipere e altri serpenti italiani. Siste Edizioni, Trento, 176 pp. Bonaparte C. L., 1833 Iconografia della fauna italica per le quattro classi degli animali vertebrati. Tipografia Salviucci, Roma. Bruno S., 1969 Morfologia, distribuzione e biologia di Elaphe situla (Linnaeus) 1758 (Reptilia, Serpentes, Colubridae) (Studi sulla Fauna Erpetologica Italiana. X) Atti dell Accademia Gioenia di Scienze naturali, 7 (1): Bruno S., 1970 Anfibi e Rettili di Sicilia (Studi sulla Fauna Erpetologica Italiana. XI). Atti dell Accademia Gioenia di Scienze naturali, 2: Capizzi D., Luiselli L. & Rugiero L., 1998 Aspects of the Ecology of the Leopard Snake, Elaphe situla, in Southeastern Italy. Journal of Herpetology, 32 (4) : Convenzione di Berna del 19 settembre 1979, relativa alla conservazione della vita selvatica e dell'ambiente naturale in Europa (recepita in Italia con legge n. 503 del 5 agosto 1981); Cox, N.A. and Temple, H.J European Red List of Reptiles. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Diesener G. & Reicholf J., 1986 Les batraciens et les reptiles Solar, Paris, 287 pp. Direttiva CEE n. 43/92 e successive modifiche ed integrazioni, meglio nota come direttiva Habitat, riguardante la tutela della biodiversità attraverso la conservazione degli habitat naturali, nonché della flora e della fauna nel territorio comunitario, pubblicata sulla G.U.C.E n. L 206 del 22 luglio 1992 (recepita in Italia con il D.P.R. n. 357 dell 8 settembre 1997 e successive modifiche ed integrazioni); Grüber U., 1992 Guides des serpents d Europe, d Afrique du Nord et du Moyen- Orient. Delachaux et Niestlé, Paris, 248 pp. Lanza B., 1987 Tutti i serpenti italiani. Silva, Milano, 2: Lo Valvo F., 1998 Status e conservazione dell erpetofauna siciliana. Il Naturalista siciliano, 22:

39 Obst F.J., Scerbak N.N. & Böhme W., 1993 Elaphe situla (Linnaeus, 1758). Leopardnatter. Pp In: Böme W. (ed.), Handbuch der Reptilien und Amphibien Europas, Band 3\I, Schlangen (Serpentes) I (Typhlopidae, Boide, Colubridae I: Colubrinae). Aula Verlag, Wiesbaden. Pozio E. & Frisenda S., 1980 Gli Anfibi e i Rettili della Regione Puglia. Pp In: Scalera Liaci L. (ed.), Atti del VII Simposio Nazionale sulla Conservazione della Natura. Cacucci, Bari. Rondinini, C., Battistoni, A., Peronace, V., Teofili, C. (compilatori) Lista Rossa IUCN dei Vertebrati Italiani. Comitato Italiano IUCN e Ministero dell Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare, Roma. Scillitani G., Turrisi G. F. & Vaccaro A., 2006 Zamenis situla (Linnaeus, 1758). Colubro leopardino. Pp In: Sindaco R., Doria G., Razzetti E. & Bernini F. (eds.), Atlante degli Anfibi e dei Rettili d Italia/Atlas of Italian Amphibians and Reptiles. Societas Herpetologica Italica. Edizioni Polistampa, Firenze. Sofianiodu T. S., 1997 Elaphe situla (Linnaeus 1758). Pp In: Gasc J.- P., Cabela A., Crnobrnja- Isailovic J., Dolmen D., Grossenbacher K., Haffner P., Lescure J., Martens H., Martinez Rica J. P., Maurin H., Oliveira M. E., Sofianidou T. S., Veith M. & Zuiderwijk A. (eds.), Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Societas Europaea Herpetologica & Museum National d Histoire Naturelle (IEGB/SPN), Paris. Turrisi G. F., 2008 Colubro leopardino Zamenis situla (Linnaeus, 1758). Pp In: AA.VV., Atlante della Biodiversità della Sicilia: Vertebrati terrestri. Studi e Ricerche, 6, ARPA Sicilia, Palermo. Turrisi G. F. & Vaccaro A., 1998 Contributo alla conoscenza degli Anfibi e dei Rettili di Sicilia. Bollettino dell Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali di Catania, 30 (353) (1997): Turrisi G. F. & Vaccaro A., 2004a Anfibi e Rettili del Monte Etna (Sicilia orientale). Bollettino dell Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali di Catania, 36 (363) (2003): Turrisi G. F. & Vaccaro A., 2004b Status and conservation of herpetofauna from the Iblean area (South eastern Sicily). Atti 4 Congresso nazionale Societas Herpetologica Italica, Italian Journal of Zoology, suppl. 2: Utiger U., Helfenberger N., Schätti B., Schmidt C., Ruf M. & Ziswiler V., 35

40 2002 Molecular systematics and phylogeny of old and new world ratsnakes, Elaphe AUCT., and related genera (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae). - Russian Journal of Herpetology, 9 (2): Venchi A. & Sindaco R., 2006 Annotaded Checklist of the Reptiles of the Mediterranan Countries, with keys to species identification. Part 2 Snakes (Reptilia, Serpentes). Annali del Museo civico di Storia naturale G. Doria, Genova, 100: SITOGRAPHY OPIC_ID=