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

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

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