- Turkish Journal of Zoology
- Vol: 40 Issue: 1
- Morphological characteristics of the elusive blotched snake (Elaphe sauromates)at its northwestern r...
Morphological characteristics of the elusive blotched snake (Elaphe sauromates)at its northwestern range limit (Romania)
Authors : Tiberiu Sahlean, Alexandru Strugariu, Paul Dinca, Gabriel Chişamera, Catalin Stanciu, Ştefan Zamfirescu, Iulian Gherghel, Valentina Moraru
Pages : 136-140
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Publication Date : 9999-12-31
Article Type : Makaleler
Abstract :The blotched snake (Elaphe sauromates) is one of the most elusive species of snakes in Romania, and only a small number of individuals have ever been found, which is why morphological data are both scarce and over half a century old. The data gathered from the individuals captured during our field work confirmed the presence of sexual dimorphism (significant for SVL/TL ratios) and presented a greater morphological variation than recorded in the scientific literature. Individuals examined usually had more than 2 rows of temporal scales and displayed variation in subocular scales, as opposed to the information previously available, hinting at a possible environmental influence on meristic characteristics.Keywords : Reptiles, morphometrics, scalation, sexual dimorphism, Romanian Dobruja