Research Article ISSN 2336-9744 (online) | ISSN 2337-0173 (print) The journal is available on line at www.ecol-mne.com Contribution to the knowledge of distribution of Colubrid snakes in Serbia LJILJANA TOMOVIĆ1,2,4*, ALEKSANDAR UROŠEVIĆ2,4, RASTKO AJTIĆ3,4, IMRE KRIZMANIĆ1, ALEKSANDAR SIMOVIĆ4, NENAD LABUS5, DANKO JOVIĆ6, MILIVOJ KRSTIĆ4, SONJA ĐORĐEVIĆ1,4, MARKO ANĐELKOVIĆ2,4, ANA GOLUBOVIĆ1,4 & GEORG DŽUKIĆ2 1 University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia 2 University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia 3 Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, Dr Ivana Ribara 91, 11070 Belgrade, Serbia 4 Serbian Herpetological Society “Milutin Radovanović”, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia 5 University of Priština, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Biology Department, Lole Ribara 29, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia 6 Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, Vožda Karađorđa 14, 18000 Niš, Serbia *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected] Received 28 March 2015 │ Accepted 31 March 2015 │ Published online 6 April 2015. Abstract Detailed distribution pattern of colubrid snakes in Serbia is still inadequately described, despite the long historical study. In this paper, we provide accurate distribution of seven species, with previously published and newly accumulated faunistic records compiled. Comparative analysis of faunas among all Balkan countries showed that Serbian colubrid fauna is among the most distinct (together with faunas of Slovenia and Romania), due to small number of species. Zoogeographic analysis showed high chorotype diversity of Serbian colubrids: seven species belong to six chorotypes. South-eastern Serbia (Pčinja River valley) is characterized by the presence of all colubrid species inhabiting our country, and deserves the highest conservation status at the national level. This study should provide the basis for further, more comprehensive faunistic research, as the data on distribution of colubrid species in our country are far from complete, with large distribution “gaps”, especially in northern and central parts of Serbia. Key words: Colubrids, distribution, diversity, faunistics, Serbia. Introduction A growing body of evidence suggests that many reptile species are endangered worldwide (Böhm et al. 2013), and that many populations are declining (reviews in Gibbons et al. 2000; Reading et al. 2010; Sinervo et al. 2010; Ihlow et al. 2012). Given the fact that the first step, preceding the studies of e.g. systematics, ecology and biogeography, is the comprehensive knowledge of biodiversity of the certain region, faunistic studies are of growing importance, especially in the regions or countries with incomplete species distribution data (Margules et al. 2002; Jelić et al. 2013; Vukov et al. 2013; Sterijovski et al. 2014; Tomović et al. 2014). Concerning conservation biology, detailed faunistic studies provide essential data for identification of biodiversity “hotspots” i.e. areas with exceptional species assemblages, high levels of endemicity and/or areas under significant threats (Gaston et al. 2002). Ecol. Mont., 2 (3), 2015, 162-186 TOMOVIĆ ET AL. Concerning the reptile fauna, the Balkan Peninsula is recognized as one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in Europe (Gaston & David 1994; Džukić 1995; Médail & Quézel 1999; Džukić & Kalezić 2004). This partly results from its role as an important Pleistocene glacial refugium and a source for subsequent re- colonisations of Europe (e.g. Džukić & Kalezić 2004; Ursenbacher et al. 2008; Gvoždík et al. 2010). Being situated in the central part of the Balkans, Serbia is a very important territory for diversity of reptiles, due to the occurrence of various biogeographical phenomena: presence of the Balkan endemic species and relicts, different faunal elements, marginality of certain species’ ranges and presence of peripheral populations, as well as range fragmentation (Matvejev 1961; Džukić 1974, 1980, 1995; Džukić & Kalezić 2004; Vukov et al. 2013). In vast majority of previous faunistic studies, Serbia was considered within the territory of ex- Yugoslavia (Karaman 1921, 1939; Radovanović 1941, 1951; Pavletić 1964; Radovanović 1964; Džukić 1970, 1972; Džukić & Pasuljević 1979; Džukić 1995; Džukić & Kalezić 2004; Jelić et al. 2013). Earlier faunistic publications (Mehély 1903; Karaman 1921, 1939; Radovanović 1941, 1951, 1964; Džukić 1972; Kattinger 1972; Džukić 1975) provided more-or-less precise distributional data for all colubrid species present in Serbia. Many distributional data were given in papers oriented to systematic research of particular regions or habitats in Serbia (Mehély 1903; Karaman 1948; Ham et al. 1981; Tadijan & Mikeš 1984; Crnobrnja & Rohalj 1988; Jović et al. 1997; Stanković 2004; Perić & Stanković 2005; Stanković 2005; Ivančević et al. 2007; Crnobrnja-Isailović et al. 2012; Ralev et al. 2013), while the majority of regions have never been covered by targeted faunistic investigations. The most recent faunistic studies were primarily focused on few species with peripheral or sparse presence in Serbia – Platyceps najadum (Crnobrnja- Isailović & Aleksić 1999) and Elaphe quatuorlineata (Ristić et al. 2006). Distribution data on the common and widespread European species (Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Coronella austriaca and Zamenis longissimus) were quite poor and scattered (Karaman 1939; Radovanović 1941; Karaman 1948; Radovanović 1964; Džukić 1972; Jović et al. 1997). The most recent comprehensive faunistic study of Tomović et al. (2014) is the first publication which presents general distribution and diversity patterns of reptiles in Serbia. However, this study provided only approximative maps of real and potential distributions, without exact locality data or UTM coordinates. Unpublished distributional data on colubrid species collected in the past decades substantially exceed those from literature sources. Complete presentation of both new records and literature data will enable more comprehensive analyses of distribution pattern, faunal diversity and conservation priorities of the colubrid species in Serbia. Thus, the aims of this study were: 1) to publish a complete dataset of distribution records of all colubrid species in Serbia, with published and new distribution data compiled, 2) provide standardized 10 x 10 UTM maps of all existing distribution data, 3) to analyse patterns of chorotype diversity of colubrids in Serbia, and 4) to compare species diversity of Serbia with regional faunas. Material and Methods Study group The snake family Colubridae comprises more than 1,800 species (Pough et al. 2004). It is the most widespread (occurs on all continents except the Antarctica), diverse, and species-rich family within the Ophidia suborder. Members of the colubrid family are relatively large, diurnal and heliothermic snakes (at least in the temperate zone); thus they are usually easily visible. In regions with moderate climate, colubrids hibernate through the cold period of the year. The Balkan Peninsula is inhabited by 17 species of colubrids (Gasc et al. 1997; Sillero et al. 2014). Study area Territory of Serbia includes three distinct altitudinal regions – (1) parts of the Pannonian plain in the north (0 – 200 m a.s.l.), (2) the Peripannonian lowlands and hills parallel with southern banks of the Sava and Danube rivers, and those along the Velika Morava River valley (200 – 600 m a.s.l.), and (3) the Mountain-valley region (600 – 2,650 m a.s.l.) (Marković 1970). The Pannonian parts of Serbia are under the continental climate with cold winters and very hot and dry summers. The Peripannonian region is characterized by moderate continental climate. Alpine climate is dominant in mountainous regions above 800 m a.s.l. Sub- Mediterranean climate is present in southern and south-eastern regions, as well as in Kosovo and Metohija; Ecol. Mont., 2 (3), 2015, 162-186 163 COLUBRIDAE DISTRIBUTION IN SERBIA canyons and gorges often have certain climatic peculiarities which make them important refugial habitats (Radovanović & Mijović 2005). Figure 1. Altitudinal and biogeographic regions of Serbia. Altitudinal regions: green – Pannonian, yellow – Peripannonian, orange – Mountain-valley. Biogeographic regions: Bč – Bačka, Bt – Banat, Sr – Srem, Po – Pomoravlje, Š – Šumadija, C – central Serbia, NE – north-eastern Serbia, NW – north-western Serbia, E – eastern Serbia, W – western Serbia, SE – south-eastern Serbia, SW – south-western Serbia, S – southern Serbia, K – Kosovo and M – Metohija. 164 TOMOVIĆ ET AL. Methods The species were identified according to standard herpetological literature, by visual inspection of the diagnostic characters on specimens from scientific collections, voucher photos, or directly in the field (Arnold & Ovenden 2002). Regarding taxonomy and current nomenclature, we referred to the work of Speybroeck et al. (2010). This study was based on the species’ occurrence records from different sources: (1) Natural History Museum in Vienna, (2) Hungarian Natural History Museum in Budapest, (3) Students’ research organization “Josif Pančić“ in Belgrade, (4) Research center “Petnica“, (5) authors’ field observations, and (6) field data which were kindly donated by our colleagues (see Acknowledgements). We also used data from field herpetology websites (www.bioras.petnica.rs and http://en.balcanica.info) collected by amateur herpetologists and confirmed by experts. When using data from Internet,