Vol. 14 No. 2 (2019)
Short Note

Variability in the dorsal pattern of the Sardinian grass snake (Natrix natrix cetti) with notes on its ecology

Enrico Lunghi
Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road 1, 100101, Beijing, China
Simone Giachello
Dipartimento di Scienze e politiche ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italia
Manuela Mulargia
CEAS Santa Lucia Siniscola. Via Isalle 4, 08029 Siniscola, Italia
Pier Paolo Dore
Gruppo Speleo Ambientale Sassari, Via Pigliaru, 3, 07100 Sassari, Italia
Roberto Cogoni
Unione Speleologica Cagliaritana, via Scarlatti, 11, 09045 Quartu Sant’Elena, Italia
Claudia Corti
Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road 1, 100101, Beijing, China

Published 2019-12-27

Keywords

  • Melanism,
  • abundism,
  • mimicry,
  • predator avoidance,
  • island

How to Cite

Lunghi, E., Giachello, S., Mulargia, M., Dore, P. P., Cogoni, R., & Corti, C. (2019). Variability in the dorsal pattern of the Sardinian grass snake (Natrix natrix cetti) with notes on its ecology. Acta Herpetologica, 14(2), 141–145. https://doi.org/10.13128/a_h-7753

Abstract

The Sardinian grass snake (Natrix natrix cetti) is a Critically Endangered snake endemic to Sardinia (Italy), for which information is still scarce. In the present work, we report information obtained from 36 observations of N. n. cetti performed in different areas of the Island. Three different colorations were mainly observed and darker snakes were in general males and big adults; the only juvenile found showed a complete different dorsal colouration. Snakes were observed active during day-time and often far from the aquatic habitats.