Acta Carp. Occ. 14: 44-50, 2023 | https://doi.org/10.62317/aco.2023.008

The first findings of a white Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus) in the Czech Republic

Mojmír Vlašín1
1 Drozdí 7, CZ-621 00 Brno

In the year 2023, a white-coloured snake was caught near town of Brumov-Bylnice in the White Carpathians (Zlín Region, Czech Republic). Detailed examination of the specimen showed that it was an adult male of Aeskulapian snake Zamenis longissimus (Laurenti, 1768), 101 cm long and weighing 179 g. This is the first record of a white coloured individual of this species in the Czech Republic. Eye colouration showed that it is not an albino but a leucistic individual. The specimen had blood taken for DNA isolation, was marked with patches on the abdominal scales and was tagged with a chip. The individual was subsequently released back at the point of discovery. The discovery site is located within the international grid mapping square 6974, in the cadastre of Brumov. A year earlier, another white-coloured specimen of this species was found nearby. It was a juvenile of about 40 cm long, which later died. This finding is only documented by a photograph.

Keywords: albinotic / leucistic Aesculapian snake, conservation, endangered species, faunistics, Reptilia

Published: January 7, 2024  Show citation

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Vlašín, M. (2023). The first findings of a white Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus) in the Czech Republic. Acta Carpathica Occidentalis, 14(1), 44-50. doi: 10.62317/aco.2023.008
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