These colubrids bring the number of snakes in the country to 12, with 25 total reptile species found in Kosovo.
Researchers have discovered three colubrid snakes living in Kosovo, marking the first time these species have been found in the country. The snakes, two non-venomous, are Platyceps najadum, known as the Dahl’s whip snake or the slender whip snake; Telescopus fallax, the European cat snake, a venomous, rear-fanged snake that is found throughout Southeastern Europe and Western Asia; and Zamenis situla, also known as the European ratsnake or leopard snake.
These colubrids were first documented in Kërvenik and Pustenik. They were captured, photographed and immediately released in the locations in which they were found.
In addition to Kosovo, Platyceps najadum is also found in the Balkans, which is comprised of the countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey, as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq, Lebanon, Russia, and Turkmenistan. There is a published case report of a fatality from a bite from this snake, however the researchers believe it is unlikely the fatality was caused by the bite as they believe the snake is incapable of causing life threatening bites.
There were five observations of Telescopus fallax in Kërvenik, under rocks in a dry, stony and open area, according to the paper announcing the findings. The European cat snake is the only venomous species in the trio, though it is rear fanged. This species can be found in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Syria, and Turkey. There is one documented by from a subspecies, Telescopus fallax iberus, which caused mild effects and no death.
Zamenis situla was also observed in Kërvenik, also on the same day as the other two species. It was observed moving from a forest to an open and stony dry area. It is found in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
These colubrids bring the number of snakes in the country to 12, with 25 total reptile species found in Kosovo. The paper describing the finds of these snakes “Three new country records of colubrid snakes (Squamata, Colubridae) for the Republic of Kosovo” can be read on the Herpetozoa website.
