THE NATIONAL RED LIST OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Eurasian Blind Snake

Xerotyphlops vermicularis

Macedonian

Црвовидна змија

Albanian

Gjarpri i verber

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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

Xerotyphlops vermicularis

Authority

(Merrem, 1820)

Synonyms

Typhlops vermicularis Merrem, 1820; Typhlops flavescens Bibron & Bory, 1833

Assessment info

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria

DD – Data Deficient

Date assessed

November 2019

Assessors

Arsovski, D.

Sterijovski, B.

Reviewers

Tomović, L.

Contributors

/

Facilitators

Hofman, M.P.G.

Justification

Despite small area of occupancy (AOO; 168 km2) and extent of occurrence (EOO; 6.584 km2), where present in North Macedonia the Eurasian Blind Snake seems relatively common, because during suitable conditions in springtime many individuals can be found under rocks in a short period of time. Nevertheless, at any other occasion this elusive animal is almost impossible to observe, therefore detailed monitoring studies are lacking and very difficult to establish. Threats and/or decreasing population trends, and even population extinction events could easily go unnoticed. Moreover, Macedonian populations are at the edge of the species’ distribution range, making it particularly interesting to follow potential shifts in its range. Without better insight on population status and possible conservation threats and their scope, properly assessing this elusive species with quite a limited distribution range in North Macedonia is impossible. We call for more research on the status of its populations and the effects of threats, until when it is Data Deficient. Globally and in Europe, it has been assessed as Least Concern.

Population

Current population trend

Unknown

Description

In North Macedonia the population size is not accurately determined. Its elusive nature and fossorial life-style preclude any kinds of inferences about population trends.

Habitat and Ecology

System

Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology

Fairly dry open areas with loose soil, usually without tall vegetation (Speybroeck et al. 2016). It can also be found in traditional agricultural areas, among ruins and even in urban areas. This fossorial species is predominantly found during the springtime. Mating occurs in May and June and by August females lay between four and eight elongated eggs (Aghasyan et al. 2017).

Use and trade

Use and trade

There is no known use of or trade in this species.

Threats

Threats

Likely threatened by habitat loss through intensive agriculture and/or mining. Nevertheless, its fossorial and elusive nature make it difficult to estimate the impact levels of threats.

Conservation actions

Conservation actions

This species is listed on Annex III of the Bern Convention. 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., 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/.

Aghasyan, A., Avci, A., Tuniyev, B., Crnobrnja-Isailović, J., Lymberakis, P., Andrén, C., Cogalniceanu, D., Wilkinson, J., Ananjeva, N.B., Üzüm, N., Orlov, N.L., Podloucky, R., Tuniyev, S., Kaya, U., Ajtic, R., Tok, V., Ugurtas, I.H., Sevinç, M., Crochet, P.-A., Disi, A.M., Hraoui-Bloquet, S., Sadek, R., Werner, Y.L., Haxhiu, I,, Baha El Din, S., Sterijovski, B., Böhme, W., Jelić, D., Borkin, L., Milto, K., Golynsky, E., Rustamov, A, Nuridjanov, D. & Munkhbayar, K. 2017. Xerotyphlops vermicularis. 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.