THE NATIONAL RED LIST OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Balkan Whip Snake

Hierophis gemonensis

Macedonian

Балкански смок

Albanian

Shigjeta shkurtër

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Not evaluated Data deficient Least concern Near threatened Vulnerable ENDANGERED Critically endangered Extinct in the wild Extinct
NE DD LC NT VU EN CR EW EX
Taxonomy
Assessment info
Population
Habitat and Ecology
Threats
Use and Trade
Conservation Actions
Bibliography

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Hierophis gemonensis

Authority

(Laurenti, 1768)

Synonyms

Coluber gemonensis Laurenti, 1768

Assessment info

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria

EN – Endangered, B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv)

Date assessed

November 2019

Assessors

Arsovski, D.

Sterijovski, B.

Reviewers

Tomović, L.

Contributors

/

Facilitators

Hofman, M.P.G.

Justification

The Balkan Whips Snake exhibits the most limited distribution range of all snake species in North Macedonia (Sterijovski et al. 2014), evident in its extent of occurrence (EOO = 503 km2) and area of occupancy (AOO = 20 km2). Taking into account the few locations it can be found in, nationally (Prespa field, Galichica Mt. and the Crn Drim river gorge, which may well be one location), and the threats (habitat destruction, wildfires and road mortality) it is facing in those locations it has been assessed as Endangered. Regional rescue effects are only remotely possible, because national Balkan Whip Snakes seem to only “communicate” with conspecifics from Albania through the narrow gorge of river Crn Drim. Please find region names and the extent of their respective areas in Melovski et al. (2013). Globally and in Europe, this species has been assessed as Least Concern.

Population

Current population trend

Decreasing

Description

In North Macedonia the population size is not accurately determined. Here the species is at one of its eastern distribution edges, making the Balkan Whip Snake a rare sight in the country. Besides being quite common in other countries (Lymberakis & Ajtic 2009), populations are likely small in Macedonia and possibly decreasing.

Habitat and Ecology

System

Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology

This species occurs in dry, stony areas, scrubland, open woodland, vineyards, olive groves, generally overgrown areas, rural gardens and ruins. Mating takes place in April and May and females lay clutches of four to 10 eggs (Lymberakis & Ajtic. 2009).

Use and trade

Use and trade

Individuals are sometimes spotted as captive-bred by hobbyists and distributed within the hobbyist community.

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. It can be affected by habitat loss to agricultural intensification, wildfires and pollution (Lymberakis et al. 2009). All threats listed for this species are included in the list of priority threats to biological diversity in the “NATIONAL Strategy for biodiversity of Republic of Macedonia” (Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, 2018).

Conservation actions

Conservation actions

It is listed on Annex III of the Bern Convention and on Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive. It does not appear on the national lists of protected wild species. The Balkan Whip Snake is endemic to the Balkan Peninsula.

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.

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

Ministry of environment and physical planning. 2018. National biodiversity strategy and action plan : for the period 2018 – 2023 Ministry of environment and physical planning. Skopje. .p 183.

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

Melovski, Lj., Markoski, B., Hristovski, S., Jovanovska, D., Anastasovski, V., Klincharov, S., Velevski, M., Velkovski, N., Trendafilov, A., Matevski, V., Kostadinovski, M., Karadelev, M., Levkov, Z., Kolchakovski, D. 2013. Regional division of the Republic of Macedonia for the needs of biological databases . .p 81-111.

Lymberakis, P., Ajtić, R. 2009. Hierophis gemonensis. 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.