Prejeto / Received: 30.10.2010 Sprejeto / Accepted: 5.11.2010
New records	of four-lined snake (Elaphe
quatuoriineata)	in Natura 2000 site Slovenska Istra (SI3000212)
Vesna CAFUTA
Societas herpetologica slovenica - društvo za preučevanje dvoživk in plazilcev, Večna pot 111, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Škofjeloška 25, SI-1215 Medvode, Slovenia; E-mail: vesna.cafuta@gmail.com
Abstract. The article presents new records of ten specimens (one juvenile, one subadult and eight snake sheddings) of four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuoriineata) recorded in a period between May 2002 and March 2011 on seven locations in Natura 2000 site Slovenska Istra (SI3000212). In some locations, the species was observed several times. Data show successful reproduction within the abovementioned Natura 2000 site.
Key words: reptiles, snakes, colubrid snakes, Colubridae, four-lined snake, Elaphe quatuorlineata, distribution, reproduction, Natura 2000, Slovenia
Izvleček. NOVE NAJDBE PROGASTEGA GOŽA (ELAPHE QUA TUORLINEA TA) V OBMOČJU NATURA 2000 SLOVENSKA ISTRA (SI3000212) - V članku so opisane nove najdbe desetih osebkov (juvenilni in subadultni osebek ter osem kačjih levov) progastega goža (Elaphe quatuor1ineata) s sedmih lokacij v območju Natura 2000 Slovenska Istra (SI3000212), zabeležene med majem 2002 in marcem 2011. Na nekaterih lokacijah je bila vrsta večkrat opažena. Podatki potrjujejo uspešno razmnoževanje vrste v omenjenem območju Nature 2000.
Ključne besede: plazilci, kače, goži, Colubridae, progasti gož, Elaphe quatuorlineata, razširjenost, razmnoževanje, Natura 2000, Slovenija
In Slovenia, the four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuoriineata) reaches the northernmost limit of its distribution (Kreiner 2007). Historical finds are known from Robič, Šempeter near Nova Gorica and from the border area with Italy (Tome 1996, Bressi et al. 2004). Records on occurrence of the four-lined snake in the country published in the last 30 years are rare and confined to the Slovenian part of Istria (Škornik 1985, Škornik 1989, Verovnik 1995, Planinc 1997, Bressi et al. 2004, Cafuta 2005, KPSS 2008, Krofel et al. 2009). The species is protected by Decree on protected wild animal species and is considered an endangered species (Rules on the inclusion of endangered plant and animal species in the Red List, 2002). It is also protected by the Bern Convention (Annex II) and the EC Habitats directive (Annexes II and IV). In Slovenia, the only Natura 2000 site that includes four-lined snake is Slovenska Istra (SI3000212).
NATURA SLOVENIAE 13(1): 51-55
ZOTKS Gibanje znanost mladini, Ljubljana, 2011
During the reptile survey in Natura 2000 site Slovenska Istra in a period between May 2002 and March 2011, new finds of the four-lined snake were recorded. Accurate locations are not given due to conservation reasons. Material was identified with identification keys (Tome 1999, Arnold 2002) and by comparing material from snake shedding collection kept by the author of this article. Measurements of the carcass and live animal are given below. In live specimens, errors are possible due to movements.
New records:
•	Brič (UTM square VL03). Material: 1 poorly preserved snake shedding of adult found on 14.08.2008, leg. & det. V. Cafuta.
•	Koštabona (UTM square VL03). Material: live subadult found on 31.05.2008 (Fig. 1), leg. & det. G. Planinc. Snout-vent length = 88 cm, tail length = 23 cm.
•	Labor (UTM square VL03). Material: altogether 3 poorly preserved snake sheddings of adult animals found on 26.08.2006, 18.08.2007 and 24.05.2008; leg. V. Cafuta & G. Planinc, det. V. Cafuta. Due to poorly preserved material, it is not possible to determine whether sheddings belong to one or more individuals. Comment: first find of a well preserved snake shedding in this location dates from 20.07.2004 (Cafuta 2005).
•	Puče (UTM square UL93). Material: 1 poorly preserved snake shedding of adult found on 01.04.2007, leg. & det. V. Cafuta.
•	Stena near Dragonja (UTM square UL93). Material: 1 poorly preserved snake shedding of adult animal found on 11.05.2002, leg. & det. G. Planinc; 1 snake shedding of juvenile found on 22.07.2010 (Fig. 2), leg. Anonymous, det. A. Dall'Asta & V. Cafuta. Comment: previous finds of adult animals in this location date from 19.03.1983 (T. Trilar, pers. comm.), June 1983 (Škornik 1985) and April 1994 (Verovnik 1995, R. Verovnik, pers. comm.), snake sheddings (not preserved) found on 30.07.1996 (Planinc 1997) and on 05.07.1997 (G. Planinc & T. Brstilo, pers. comm.).
•	Sv. Peter (UTM square UL93). Material: Carcass of road-killed juvenile animal found on 07.04.2007 (Fig. 3), leg. & det. G. Planinc & V. Cafuta. Snout-vent length = 28.6 cm, tail length = 6.8 cm.
•	Sv. Štefan (UTM square UL93). Material: 1 poorly preserved snake shedding of subadult or adult animal found on 10.03.2011, leg. M. Silan, E. Ostanek & T. Jagar, det. E. Ostanek. Comment: previous find in this location is mentioned in Škornik (1989).
The carcass and snake sheddings are kept by the author of this article. Finds of juvenile (carcass and shedding) and subadult are the first documented proofs of reproduction of the species in Slovenia.
Locations of finds are distributed on the slopes and in the plain of the Dragonja river valley with tributaries. According to the results of the reptile survey in years 2007, 2008 and 2010, conducted by G. Planinc and V. Cafuta (G. Planinc & V. Cafuta, unpublished data), it can be concluded that the four-lined snake is a rare or very elusive snake species in Natura 2000 site Slovenska Istra. However, older and recent data show that the species successfully reproduces within the region and has been observed several times on some locations.
Additional field work should be carried out in the future to acquire detailed knowledge on distribution of the four-lined snake not just in Natura 2000 site Slovenska Istra, but elsewhere as well. Monitoring should be established soon.
Figure 1. Subadult four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata) found on 31st May, 2008, near Koštabona, SW Slovenia (photo: Griša Planine).
Slika 1. Subadultni osebek progastega goža (Elaphe quatuorlineata), najden 31.05.2008 v okolici Koštabone, JZ Slovenija (foto: Griša Planine).
Figure 2. Shedding of a juvenile four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata) found on 22nd July, 2010, at Stena near
Dragonja, SW Slovenia (photo: Vesna Cafuta). Slika 2. Lev juvenilnega osebka progastega goža (Elaphe quatuorlineata), najdenega 22.07.2010 v Steni pri Dragonji, JZ Slovenija (foto: Vesna Cafuta).
Figure 3. Carcass of a juvenile four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata) found on 7th April, 2007, near Sv. Peter,
SW Slovenia (photo: Vesna Cafuta). Slika 3. Kadaver juvenilnega osebka progastega goža (Elaphe quatuorlineata), najdenega 07.04.2007 v okolici Sv. Petra, JZ Slovenija (foto: Vesna Cafuta).
Povzetek
Podatki o pojavljanju progastega goža (Elaphe quatuorlineata) v Sloveniji so redki in v zadnjih 30 letih omejeni izključno na območje slovenskega dela Istre. Med majem 2002 in marcem 2011 je bilo med popisom plazilcev v območju Natura 2000 Slovenska Istra na sedmih lokacijah zabeleženih deset najdb progastega goža (juvenilni in subadultni osebek ter osem kačjih levov). Natančne lokacije niso podane zaradi naravovarstvenih razlogov. Na Briču je bil najden en kačji lev dne 14.08.2008, v Koštaboni en subadultni osebek dne 31.05.2008 (dolžina telesa brez repa je znašala 88 cm, dolžina repa 23 cm), v Laborju trije kačji levi dne 26.08.2006, 18.08.2007 in 24.05.2008, v Pučah en kačji lev dne 01.04.2007, v Steni pri Dragonji kačji lev odraslega osebka dne 11.05.2002 in lev juvenilnega osebka 22.07.2010, v Sv. Petru povožen juvenilni osebek dne 07.04.2007 (dolžina telesa brez repa je znašala 28,6 cm, dolžina repa 6,8 cm) ter pri Sv. Štefanu en kačji lev dne 10.03.2011. Najdbe juvenilnih in subadultnih osebkov so prvi dokumentirani dokaz uspešnega razmnoževanja vrste v Sloveniji. Lokacije najdb so v dolini reke Dragonje s pritoki ter na pobočjih, ki se vzpenjajo nad dolino. Vrsta je v omenjenem območju Nature 2000 redka oziroma zelo težko zaznavna in se uspešno razmnožuje. Z nekaterih lokacij so znana redna opažanja vrste. Najdeni kačji levi ter kadaver so v hrambi pri avtorici tega članka.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Griša Planinc, Mirko Silan, Erika Ostanek, Tomaž Jagar, Tanja Brstilo, Dr Tomi Trilar, and Dr Rudi Verovnik for permitting me to publish their data. I am also grateful to Tomaž Jagar and Erika Ostanek for donating the shedding of a juvenile from Stena to the snake shedding collection and to Andrea Dall'Asta for his immense help with identifying this particular shedding.
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