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{{Short description|Species of snake}}
{{speciesbox
{{Speciesbox
|image=Mediterranean Cat Snake.jpg
|image=Mediterranean Cat Snake.jpg
|image_caption=''Telescopus fallax'' from [[Malta]]
|image_caption=''Telescopus fallax'' from [[Malta]]
|status=LC
|status=LC
|status_system=IUCN3.1
|status_system=IUCN3.1
|status_ref =<ref name=iucn>{{Cite journal | author = Aram Agasyan | author2 = Aziz Avci | author3 = Boris Tuniyev | author4 = Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic | author5 = Petros Lymberakis | author6 = Claes Andrén | author7 = Dan Cogalniceanu | author8 = John Wilkinson | author9 = Natalia Ananjeva | author10 = Nazan Üzüm | display-authors = etal | title = ''Telescopus fallax'' | journal = [[The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]] | volume = 2009 | page = e.T157258A5062870 | publisher = [[IUCN]] | date = 2009 | url = http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/157258/0 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T157258A5062870.en | access-date = 16 January 2018}}</ref>
|status_ref =<ref name=iucn>{{Cite iucn | author = Aram Agasyan | author2 = Aziz Avci | author3 = Boris Tuniyev | author4 = Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic | author5 = Petros Lymberakis | author6 = Claes Andrén | author7 = Dan Cogalniceanu | author8 = John Wilkinson | author9 = Natalia Ananjeva | author10 = Nazan Üzüm | display-authors = etal | title = ''Telescopus fallax'' | page = e.T157258A5062870 | date = 2009 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T157258A5062870.en | access-date = 15 March 2022}}</ref>
|genus=Telescopus
|genus=Telescopus
|species=fallax
|species=fallax
Line 18: Line 19:
}}
}}


The '''European cat snake''' (''Telescopus fallax''), also known as the '''Soosan snake''', is a [[venom]]ous [[Colubridae|colubrid]] [[snake]] [[Endemism|endemic]] to the [[Mediterranean Basin|Mediterranean]] and [[Caucasus]] regions.
The '''European cat snake''' ('''''Telescopus fallax'''''), also known as the '''Mediterranean cat snake''', is a non [[venom]]ous [[Colubridae|colubrid]] [[snake]] [[Endemism|endemic]] to the [[Mediterranean Basin|Mediterranean]] and [[Caucasus]] regions.

==Geographic range==
==Geographic range==
It occurs in [[Italy]], [[Greece]] ([[Paros]], [[Antiparos]], Tourlos, [[Crete]], [[Kalymnos]], [[Samos]], [[Milos]], [[Corfu]]), [[Albania]], coastal [[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]] (including some [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] islands), [[Herzegovina]], [[Montenegro]], [[Republic of Macedonia]], southern [[Bulgaria]], [[Turkey]], [[Malta]], [[Cyprus]], [[Iran]], [[Iraq]], [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Israel]], southern [[Russia]] (Caucasus, [[Dagestan]]), [[Armenia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], and [[Azerbaijan]].
It occurs in [[Italy]], [[Greece]] ([[Paros]], [[Antiparos]], Tourlos, [[Crete]], [[Kalymnos]], [[Samos]], [[Milos]], [[Corfu]]), [[Albania]], coastal [[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]] (including some [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] islands), [[Herzegovina]], [[Montenegro]], [[North Macedonia]], southern [[Bulgaria]], [[Turkey]], [[Malta]], [[Cyprus]], [[Iran]], [[Iraq]], [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Israel]], southern [[Russia]] (Caucasus region), [[Armenia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], and [[Azerbaijan]].


==Ecology==
==Ecology and biology ==
[[File:Telescopus fallax head.jpg|thumb|left|Head of the European cat snake]]
The European cat snake is [[venomous]], but because it is rear-fanged (fangs are located at the back of the upper jaw), it rarely injects its venom in defensive biting, and is therefore considered no threat to humans. It feeds mainly on [[gecko]]s and [[lizard]]s.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}
The European cat snake is [[venomous]], but because it is rear-fanged (fangs are located at the back of the upper jaw), it rarely injects its venom in defensive biting, and is therefore considered no threat to humans. It feeds mainly on [[gecko]]s and [[lizard]]s.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}


The species can be found in open and scrubby country including beaches and open woodlands.<ref name=iucn/>
The species can be found in open and scrubby country including beaches and open woodlands.<ref name=iucn/>

Cat snakes can reach a length of up to 100cms <ref> page 193 https://books.google.com/books?id=ymhADwAAQBAJ&dq=European+cat+snake&pg=PA191</ref>

==Subspecies==
5 [[subspecies]] are currently recognized.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Telescopus&species=fallax | title=Telescopus fallax }}</ref>

*''Telescopus fallax cyprianus'' (Barbour & Amaral, 1927) - [[Cyprus]]
*''Telescopus fallax fallax'' (Fleischmann, 1831) - Northeastern [[Italy]], [[Greece]] ([[Paros]], [[Mykonos]], [[Antiparos]], [[Crete]], [[Kalymnos]], [[Samos]], [[Kimolos]], [[Milos]], [[Corfu]], [[Syros]]), [[Albania]], coastal [[Croatia]], [[Slovenia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Montenegro]], [[North Macedonia|Macedonia]], southern [[Bulgaria]], [[Turkey]], [[Malta]], [[Cyprus]], [[Iran]], [[Iraq]], [[Syria]], [[Israel]], southern [[Russia]], [[Armenia]], [[Republic of Georgia]], and [[Azerbaijan]].
*''Telescopus fallax iberus'' (Eichwald, 1831) - [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]], South [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], southern [[Russia]], northern [[Iran]], and East [[Turkey]].
*''Telescopus fallax pallidus'' (Stepanek, 1944) - [[Crete]], [[Gavdos]], [[Elasa]] and [[Christiana Islands]].
*''Telescopus fallax syriacus'' (Boettger, 1880) - [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Jordan]], southeast [[Turkey]] and northern [[Israel]].


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* [[:fr:Edwin Nicholas Arnold|Arnold EN]], Burton JA. 1978. ''A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe''. London: Collins. 272 pp. + Plates 1-40. <br>{{ISBN|0-00-219318-3}}. (''Telescopus fallax'', pp.&nbsp;207–210 + Plate 38, Figures 4a, 4b + Map 120).
* [[:fr:Edwin Nicholas Arnold|Arnold EN]], Burton JA. 1978. ''A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe''. London: Collins. 272 pp. + Plates 1–40. <br />{{ISBN|0-00-219318-3}}. (''Telescopus fallax'', pp.&nbsp;207–210 + Plate 38, Figures 4a, 4b + Map 120).
* Fleischmann FL. 1831. ''Dalmatiae Nova Serpentum Genera''. Erlangen, Germany: C. Heyder. 35 pp. (''Tarbophis fallax'', new species, p.&nbsp;18).
* Fleischmann FL. 1831. ''Dalmatiae Nova Serpentum Genera''. Erlangen, Germany: C. Heyder. 35 pp. (''Tarbophis fallax'', new species, p.&nbsp;18).


==External links==
==External links==
⚫
{{Wikispecies|Telescopus fallax}}
⚫
{{Commons|Telescopus fallax}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3aytQA63BI Video of ''Telescopus fallax''] on YouTube
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3aytQA63BI Video of ''Telescopus fallax''] on YouTube
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oJpAWwMCnk Video of ''Telescopus fallax''] on YouTube
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oJpAWwMCnk Video of ''Telescopus fallax''] on YouTube
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-9JOZwvgUQ Movement of ''Telescopus fallax''] on YouTube
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-9JOZwvgUQ Movement of ''Telescopus fallax''] on YouTube
⚫
{{Commons|Telescopus fallax}}
⚫
{{Wikispecies|Telescopus fallax}}
⚫
{{Telescopus}}


⚫
{{Telescopus}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1377407}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1377407}}


[[Category:Telescopus]]
[[Category:Telescopus]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Asia]]
[[Category:Reptiles of West Asia]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Europe]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Europe]]
[[Category:Reptiles described in 1831]]
[[Category:Reptiles described in 1831]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Russia]]




Latest revision as of 23:36, 26 August 2024

European cat snake
Telescopus fallax from Malta
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Telescopus
Species:
T. fallax
Binomial name
Telescopus fallax
(Fleischmann, 1831)
Synonyms[1]
  • Coluber vivax Fitzinger, 1826
  • Tarbophis fallax Fleischmann, 1831
  • Trigonophis iberus Eichwald, 1831
  • Coluber carneus Dwigubsky, 1832
  • Ailurophis vivax — Bonaparte, 1837
  • Tarbophis savignyi Boulenger, 1896

The European cat snake (Telescopus fallax), also known as the Mediterranean cat snake, is a non venomous colubrid snake endemic to the Mediterranean and Caucasus regions.

Geographic range

[edit]

It occurs in Italy, Greece (Paros, Antiparos, Tourlos, Crete, Kalymnos, Samos, Milos, Corfu), Albania, coastal Slovenia, Croatia (including some Adriatic islands), Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, southern Bulgaria, Turkey, Malta, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, southern Russia (Caucasus region), Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

Ecology and biology

[edit]

The European cat snake is venomous, but because it is rear-fanged (fangs are located at the back of the upper jaw), it rarely injects its venom in defensive biting, and is therefore considered no threat to humans. It feeds mainly on geckos and lizards.[citation needed]

The species can be found in open and scrubby country including beaches and open woodlands.[1]

Cat snakes can reach a length of up to 100cms [2]

Subspecies

[edit]

5 subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Aram Agasyan; Aziz Avci; Boris Tuniyev; Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic; Petros Lymberakis; Claes Andrén; Dan Cogalniceanu; John Wilkinson; Natalia Ananjeva; Nazan Üzüm; et al. (2009). "Telescopus fallax". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T157258A5062870. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T157258A5062870.en. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  2. ^ page 193 https://books.google.com/books?id=ymhADwAAQBAJ&dq=European+cat+snake&pg=PA191
  3. ^ "Telescopus fallax".

Further reading

[edit]
  • Arnold EN, Burton JA. 1978. A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. London: Collins. 272 pp. + Plates 1–40.
    ISBN 0-00-219318-3. (Telescopus fallax, pp. 207–210 + Plate 38, Figures 4a, 4b + Map 120).
  • Fleischmann FL. 1831. Dalmatiae Nova Serpentum Genera. Erlangen, Germany: C. Heyder. 35 pp. (Tarbophis fallax, new species, p. 18).
[edit]
Wikispecies has information related to Telescopus fallax.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Telescopus fallax.


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