New Locality Record and Morphological Data of Hemorrhois ravergieri (Ménétries, 1832) (Serpentes: Colubridae) in Turkey

Abstract

The Spotted whip snake, Hemorrhois ravergieri, has been known to be present in the Mediterranean, Central Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia, Eastern Anatolia and Black Sea regions in the literature. Until now, its presence has only been reported in Artvin, Trabzon and Bayburt provinces in the Black Sea region of Turkey, in the literature. The locality record of the H. ravergieri from Gumushane Province in the Black Sea region was provided in the current study. The record extended the distribution of this species in Turkey. The pholidolial and morphometric characters, and color-pattern features of two female specimens are given in detail and compared with the specimens in the literature. The specimens examined were similar to Hemorrhois ravergieri specimens mentioned in the literature. Only a morphological character (the undivided anal plate) was observed to be different from the features given in the literature. The findings show that the Spotted whip snake can be found in other provinces with suitable habitats in the Black Sea region in Turkey.