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Home , Dolichophis, Dolichophis jugularis, Hemorrhois nummifer

BIHAREAN BIOLOGIST 10 (2): 153-155 ©Biharean Biologist, Oradea, Romania, 2016 Article No.: e162305 http://biozoojournals.ro/bihbiol/index.html

Field notes on trophic spectrum of jugularis from Northern

Nazım KAŞOT

Near East University, Irfan Gunsel Research Center, North Cyprus, E-mail: [email protected]

Received: 26. September 2015 / Accepted: 01. June 2016 / Available online: 05. November 2016 / Printed: December 2016

Abstract. (L., 1758) is a common in Cyprus. Previous studies reported that, D. jugularis mainly prey on rodents, and lizard species. Our recent field studies, supported by photos of D. jugularis feeding is consistent with the results of previous studies. As a new species in the diet of D. jugularis we recorded Carduelis carduelis.

Key words: Dolichophis jugularis, feeding biology, , Viperidae, eastern Mediterranean.

The island of Cyprus is located on the north east of Mediter- species of lizards, snakes (including cannibalism), amphibi- ranean and is the third largest island of Mediterranean after ans and insects (Baran 1976, Atatür & Göçmen 2001, Disi et Sicily and Sardinia. The surface area of Cyprus is 9251 km2 al. 2001, Göçmen et al. 2008, Baier et al. 2009, Amr & Disi and Northern Cyprus (3242 km2) is the political unit within 2011). this island. The herpetofauna of Northern Cyprus is repre- During the field studies conducted for the monitoring of sented by a total of 26 species including three amphibians, herpetofauna of Northern Cyprus (2009-2016), feeding biol- three turtles (two sea turtle and one terrapin), 11 species of ogy of D. jugularis was recorded. The study aims to demon- lizards and nine species of snakes (Atatür & Göçmen 2001, strate the facts and also to support the origin of the feeding Baier et al. 2009). biology of D. jugularis. Some of the photos were taken by the Whip Snake, Dolichophis jugularis is a species of snake people helping the researcher and were shared with the re- with a length that may go up to 3 meters, distinctive head searcher. and circular pupils. Another interesting fact about this The species is photographed while feeding on endemic snake, the longest in Cyprus, is that it is found in different subspecies, snake eyed lizard (Ophisops elegans) (Fig. 1A), a habitats with a high density of population. This snake is rodent species (Rattus norvegicus) (Fig. 1B) and goldfinch widely found in plains, stony waterfronts, slopes and fields (Carduelis carduelis) (Fig. 1C; Table 1). During the study not as well as swamps, vineyards, in/between gardens, cemeter- only the documentation but also the observation of juvenile ies, under stones and rodent nests (Atatür & Göçmen 2001). C. carduelis being eaten by the D. jugularis was recorded for Additionally, it might be hidden on trees, old houses, inside the first time. The researcher avoided disturbing the snake of stone walls or other human-made habitats (Baier et al. while it was swallowing the bird, so that a close up picture 2009). could not be taken. Furthermore, a photo documentation of According to Jablonski et al. (2015), the variability of the species feeding on Blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera lebet- food composition among snakes is quite high, including ver- ina) (Fig. 1D,E; Table 1) is given and also as stated in some tebrates as well as invertebrates with several feeding special- literature, the study also includes a photo showing the spe- ists (e.g. Dysyptelis, Stenorrhina, Tantilla or Ophiophagus). Es- cies feeding on chameleons (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) (Fig. 1F). terbauer (1992), Shoham et al. (1997), Disi et al. (2001), Abd According to our results species fed during mid-day and in Rabou et al. (2007) were the essential studies conducted the afternoon. Most frequent preys of the species determined about feeding biology of D. jugularis. in the field studies were chameleons and rodents. Feeding The species feeds on small mammals, birds and different localities of D. jugularis are given in the table which also

Table 1. Observations of feeding biology belonging to D. jugularis (ID = ID of of D. jugularis specimens observed).

ID Prey Body size Date Locality Coordinate Time Photo of the snake of day documentation 1 Ophisopselegans Adult 10.05.14 Haspolat 35°12'18.95"N 33°25'22.37"E Midday Fig. 1 A 2 Rattus norvegicus Adult 10.06.13 Çamlıköy 35° 6'54.59"N 32°52'22.94"E Morning Fig. 1 B 3 Carduelis carduelis Adult 21.09.15 Balıkesir 35°10'30.73"N 33°29'15.88"E Afternoon Fig. 1 C 4 Macrovipera lebetina Adult 10.07.13 Karpaz 35°39'38.98"N 34°32'12.79"E Midday Fig. 1 D, E 5 Chamaeloeo chamaeleon Adult 06.08.14 Esentepe 35°20'9.78"N 33°35'6.24"E Midday Fig. 1 F 6 R. norvegicus Adult 10.06.09 Yeşilyurt 35° 9'16.17"N 32°52'16.36"E Midday - 7 R. norvegicus Adult 20.07.10 Cengizköy 35° 9'1.59"N 32°51'48.55"E Afternoon - 8 C. chamaeleon Sub adult 18.09.10 Yeşilyurt 35° 8'50.28"N 32°52'10.87"E Afternoon - 9 C. chamaeleon Sub adult 13.08.11 Gönyeli 35°14'13.12"N 33°18'24.96"E Midday - 10 C. chamaeleon Adult 19.06.12 Koruçam 35°20'53.25"N 33° 0'1.04"E Midday - 11 C. chamaeleon Sub adult 13.08.13 İskele 35°17'46.43"N 33°54'49.34"E Afternoon - 12 Phoenicolacerta troodica Adult 28.08.14 Yeşilyurt 35° 9'15.88"N 32°52'17.15"E Midday - 13 C. chaemeleon Adult 03.09.14 Tepebaşı 35°18'23.41"N 33° 1'1.23"E Midday - 14 Malpolon insignitus Adult 04.05.16 Ozanköy 35°18'9.08"N 33°22'13.72"D Afternoon - 15 nummifer Adult 10.05.16 Gönyeli 35°12'59.81"N 33°17'24.45"D Midday - 16 H. nummifer Adult 28.04.16 Akova 35°16'36.97"N 33°47'33.62"D Morning - 154 N. Kaşot

Figure 1. Recorded specimens of Dolichophis jugularis feed on Ophisops elegans (A), Rattus norvegicus (B), Carduelis carduelis (C), Macrovipera lebetina (D and E) and Chamaeleo chamaeleon (F).

provides distribution data for the herpetofauna of Northern Acknowledgment. I would like to thank to Prof. Dr. Oğuz Türkozan, Cyprus. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wayne Fuller, Cem Hami, Ahmet Özkurtuluş, As a result of field studies conducted in Northern Cy- Hüseyin Kaşot and photographers Ertaç Cüneyt, Serkan Bulak, Nuh Çetin, Ergün Cebeci, Asrın Nor. This study is an extended version of prus, the species is found to be fed on the like ro- a poster presented at 12th National Congress of Ecology and dents, lizards, birds and snakes as indicated in literature. Re- Environment. cent studies on the feeding biology of snakes are mostly based on stomach contents of the species (Akani et al. 2003, Cobb 2004, Gregory & Isaac 2004, Babb et al. 2005, Çiçek & Mermer 2007, Barlow et al. 2009, Jablonski et al. 2015). The References results of present study supports the findings of previous Abd Rabou, N.F.A., Yassin, M.M., Al-Agha, R.M., Hamad, M.D., Ali, S.K.A. literature (Baran 1976, Abd Rabou 2007, Baier et al. 2009, (2007): The Herpetofauna of the Gaza strip with particular emphasis on the Amr & Disi 2011, Lahony et al. 2013). Dolichophis jugularis vicinity of Wadi Gaza. The Islamic University Journal 15(1): 111-135. Akani, G.C., Eniand, E.A., Ekpo, I.J., Angelici, F.M., Luiselli, L. (2003): Food preying on juvenile C. carduelis was recorded for the first habits of the snake Psammophis phillipsi from the continuous rainforest region time. There has not been any study states that feeding of the of Southern Nigeria (West Africa). Journal of Herpetology 37: 208-211. species on passerines. Shoham et al. (1997) mentioned that Amr, Z., Disi, A.M. (1998): Diet of some snakes from . Amphibia and species feeds on Palm Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis). Ac- Reptilia 19: 439-442. Amr, Z., Disi, A.M. (2011): Systematics, distribution and ecology of the snakes cording to the data given in the table, true lizards and birds of Jordan. Vertebrate Zoology 61: 179-266. are least frequent prey of this species. Baier et al. (2009) notes Atatür, M.K., Göçmen. B. (2001): Kuzey Kıbrıs’ın kurbağa ve sürüngenleri. Ege that the species also feeds on medium-sized vipers and La- Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi No:170, İzmir. Babb, R.D., Bradley, G.L., Brennan, T.C., Holycross, A.T. (2005): Preliminary hony et al. (2013) has documented a member of the species assessment of the diet of Gyalopion quadrangulare (Serpentes: Colubridae). feeding on a juvenile viper. The existing study is in compli- The Southwestern Naturalist 50: 390-392. ance with Baier et al. (2009) and Lahony et al. (2013). The Baier, F., Sparrow, D., Wiedl, H.J. (2009): The amphibians and of Cyprus. Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. field observations indicate that the species is also frequently Baran, İ. (1976): Türkiye yılanlarının taksonomik revizyonu ve coğrafik feeds on chameleons (Table 1). According to Amr & Disi yayılışları, TÜBİTAK Yayınları, No.309, TBAG Seri No 9, Ankara. (1998), this is because chameleons move slowly and there- Barlow, A., Pook, C.E., Harrison, R.A., Wüster, W. (2009): Coevolution of diet and prey-specific venom activity supports the role of selection in snake fore become easy prey. Beshkov & Dushkov (1981) stated venom evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 276: 2443-2449. that species feeds on only reptiles but the data gathered from Beshkov, V.A., Dushkov. D.T. (1981): Materials on the batrachophagy and the study determines that the species is euryphagous. Disi et herpetophagy of snakes in Bulgaria. Ekologiya 9: 43-50. al. (2001) also states that the species is euryphagic. Göçmen Cobb, V.A. (2004): Diet and prey size of the flathead snake, Tantilla gracilis. Copeia 2004: 397-402. et al. (2008) stated that species shows cannibalism but in our Çiçek, K., Mermer, A. (2007): A preliminary study of the food of the dwarf data set there is not any record for this situation. As the feed- snake, Eirenis modestus (Martin, 1838) (Serpentes: Colubridae), in İzmir and ing biology of the species shows diversity and cannibalism, Manisa provinces. Turkish Journal of Zoology 31: 399-402. Disi, A.M., Modrý, D., Nečas, P., Rifai, L. (2001): Amphibians and reptiles of the more detailed studies should be conducted to clarify the hashemite kingdom of Jordan an atlas and field guide. Chimaira, Frankfurt feeding biology of this snake. am Main, Germany. Field notes on trophic spectrum of Dolichophis jugularis from Northern Cyprus 155

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