THE NATIONAL RED LIST OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Aesculapian Ratsnake

Zamenis longissimus

Macedonian

Шумски смок

Albanian

Bolla e shtëpisë

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Taxonomy
Assessment info
Population
Habitat and Ecology
Threats
Use and Trade
Conservation Actions
Bibliography

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Zamenis longissimus

Authority

(Laurenti, 1768)

Synonyms

Coluber longissima Laurenti, 1768; Coluber aesculapi Lacépède, 1789; Coluber sellmani Donndorff, 1798; Elaphe longissima (Laurenti, 1768)

Assessment info

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria

LC – Least Concern

Date assessed

November 2019

Assessors

Sterijovski, B.

Arsovski, D.

Reviewers

Ajtic, R.

Contributors

/

Facilitators

Hofman, M.P.G.

Justification

The Aesculapian Ratsnake is widely distributed across the country (Micevski et al. 2015; Pharmachem 2018; Sterijovski et al. 2014; Sterijovski et al. 2018; Uzunova et al. 2015; Uhrin et al. 2016), while its relatively small estimated area of occupancy (AOO) of 736km2 is likely a consequence of the general elusive nature of snakes, particularly colubrids. It is additionally present in all neighboring countries, with suitable habitat across much of the border outline, thus regional rescue effects can be significant. Globally and in Europe, this species has been assessed as Least Concern.

Population

Current population trend

Stable

Description

Due to a lack of monitoring programs, in North Macedonia the population size is not accurately determined. Seems common and abundant particularly between 800 and 1800 m asl, with stable population trends and no fragmentation.

Habitat and Ecology

System

Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology

Generally found in dry, open woodlands (deciduous, mixed and coniferous), woodland edges, forested ravines, rocky outcrops, field edges, orchards, stone walls and old buildings (Agasyan et al. 2017). Mating usually occurs in May or June and in June or July females produce two to 12 eggs (rarely up to 18; Speybroeck et al. 2016).

Use and trade

Use and trade

No information on trade or use is available for North Macedonia.

Threats

Threats

As is the case with all snake species in Macedonia, it is often persecuted by humans, and can fall victim to road mortality. This species is locally threatened by fragmentation of habitat through intensification of agricultural practices and afforestation of suitable areas. Eggs are laid in heaps of grass and other vegetation that are frequently cleared by people.

Conservation actions

Conservation actions

It is listed on Annex II of the Bern Convention and on Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive. It appears on the list of nationally protected wild species.

Bibliography

Bibliography

Sillero, N., Campos, J., Bonardi, A., Corti, C., Creemers, R., Crochet, P.-A., Crnobrnja-Isailović, J., Denoël, M., Ficetola, G.F., Gonçalves, J., Kuzmin, S., Lymberakis, P., de Pous, P., Rodríguez, A., Sindaco, R., Speybroeck, J., Toxopeus, B., Vieites, D.R., Vences, M. 2014. Updated distribution and biogeography of amphibians and reptiles of Europe. .p 1-31.

Micevski, B. 2015. Report of Biodiversity conditions of amphibians and reptiles of Ograzden Mt. 2014-2015 . Skopje . .p /.

Uzunova, D., Kitanova, D., Spirovska, M., Hristovski, S. 2015. Integral Report for the Project implementation. Final report of the project “Ecological data gap analysis and ecological sensitivity map development for the Bregalnica river watershed”. Skopje . .p /.

Sterijovski, B. 2018. Final report for monitoring. Maneko. Skopje . .p /.

Pharmachem .2018. The Study on Biological Diversity in the Area of Sasa Mine – Makedonska Kamenica. Pharmachem Skopje. Skopje. .p /.

Sterijovski, B., Tomović, L., Ajtić, R 2014 Contribution to the knowledge of the Reptile fauna and diversity in FYR of Macedonia. .p 83–92.

Uhrin et al. 2016. Distribution updates to amphibian and reptile fauna for the Republic of Macedonia. .p 201-220.

Speybroeck, J. Beuckema, W., Bok, B., Voort, J.V.D. 2016. Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc London . .p /.

Agasyan, A., Avci, A., Tuniyev, B., Crnobrnja-Isailović, J., Lymberakis, P., Andrén, C., Cogalniceanu, D., Wilkinson, J., Ananjeva, N., Üzüm, N., Orlov, N., Podloucky, R., Tuniyev, S., Kaya, U., Böhme, W., Ajtić, R., Vogrin, M., Corti, C., Mellado, V.P., Sá-Sousa, P., Cheylan, M., Pleguezuelos, J., Borczyk, B., Schmidt, B., Meyer, A. 2017. Zamenis longissimus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . .p /.

Gasc, J-P., Cabela, A., Crnobrnja-Isailović, J., Dolmen, D., Grossenbacher, K., Haffner, P., Lescure, J., Martens, H., Martinez-Rica, J.P., Maurin, H., Oliveira, M.L., Sofianidou, T.S., Veith, M., Zuiderwijk, A. 1997. Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Societas Europaea Herpetologica & Museum Nationall d’ Histoire Naturelle (IEGB/SPN). Paris. .p 496.