Due to their secretive nature, snakes are the most challenging animal group for monitoring. Nevertheless, population size estimates indispensable accurately determining conservation status and management strategies. We used passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags track aquatic Natrix natrix tessellata in Lake Işıklı, Denizli province, Turkey. 304 N. 1563 specimens were captured marked over fo...

We examined the mitochondrial identity of Aegean Natrix natrix moreotica representing different morphotypes, with a focus on new material from Milos and Skyros. found no correlation between distinct morphotypes identity. Our results support that grass snake populations are polyphenetic southern subspecies, including island populations, show higher variability than northern ones.

Based on 1031 samples of grass snakes from Central Europe, we examine the recently reported occurrence southern subspecies barred snake (Natrix helvetica sicula) in Bavaria, Germany. Using 13 microsatellite loci and mtDNA coding for cytb gene partial ND4 plus adjacent tRNAs, show that N. h. sicula is restricted to a few river valleys (Inn, Isar, Loisach) southernmost Bavaria Tyrol, Austria. At ...

Assessments of radiation exposure of reptiles may be required in some countries as many species are protected. However, there are few data available for the transfer of radionuclides to them, especially in terrestrial ecosystems, and consequently, no specific peer reviewed reptile data have been used in the derivation of default transfer parameters in the ERICA Tool. Twenty samples of Lacerta a...

j. B. P., a European male, aged 42, transferred to this Asylum from Agra on the 11th October, 1918. His physical health is excellent. Wassermann reaction?Absolutely negative. Diagnosis?Dementia prsecox. . On the morning of the 31st July, 1920, immediately after he had passed stools in a commode in the ward, about 8 inches of a snake was found in his stools but minus its head.Every care was take...

Communication is central to life at all levels of complexity, from cells to organs, through to organisms and communities. Turtle eggs were recently shown to communicate with each other in order to synchronise their development and generate beneficial hatching synchrony. Yet the mechanism underlying embryo to embryo communication remains unknown. Here we show that within a clutch, developing sna...

Some specialized aquatic snakes such as Natrix tessellata strike at fish by rapidly accelerating their head towards the prey with their mouth opened widely. This strategy is believed to be suboptimal as relatively high drag forces act on the open jaws and, therefore, probably limit strike speed. Moreover, the bow wave in front of the snake's jaws could push prey away from the mouth, thus potent...

A water snake (Natrix natrix) was referred to the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran. It had two subcutaneous masses. Radiographic and ultrasonographic images revealed the presence of two subcutaneous abscesses. The abscesses were removed surgically and specimens were examined by conventional microbial culture and multiplex PCR. Inv-A universal ...

The chromatoid body in the spermatogenesis of the grass-snake, Natrix natrix, has been studied by the use of phase-contrast microscopy, vital dyes, and histochemical tests. It first appears during the growth of the primary spermatocyte and is also seen in the secondary spermatocyte and late spermatid, but is absent at metaphases of both the maturation divisions, in the early spermatid, and duri...

Reptiles are declining in many parts of the world, mainly due to habitat loss and environmental change. A major factor in this is availability of suitable food. For many animals, dietary requirements shift during developmental stages and a habitat will only be suitable for conserving a species if it supports all stages. Conventional methods for establishing diet often rely on visual recognition...