four-lined snake
{{Short description|Species of snake}}
{{For|the Japanese four-lined rat snake|Japanese striped snake}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = E quatuorlineata.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = {{cite journal | author = Bowles, P. | title = Elaphe quatuorlineata | journal = IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | volume= 2024 | page = e.T157264A204978521 | year = 2024 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T157264A204978521.en | doi-access = free }}
| genus = Elaphe
| species = quatuorlineata
| authority = (Lacépède, 1789)
| range_map = Elaphe quatuorlineata distribution.png
| synonyms = * Coluber quatuorlineatus
Lacépède, 1789
- Elaphis quadrilineatus
— Bonaparte, 1839 - Elaphis quaterradiatus
— A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1854Boulenger, G.A. 1894. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume II.., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, Printers.) London. xi + 382 pp. + Plates I.- XX. (Coluber quatuorlineatus, pp. 45-47.)
}}
Elaphe quatuorlineata (common names: four-lined snake, Bulgarian ratsnake{{Cite web|title = Four-lined Snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata)|url = http://www.ratsnakes.com/Equatuorlineata.html|website = www.ratsnakes.com|access-date = 2015-12-08}}) is a member of the family Colubridae.{{NRDB species|genus=Elaphe |species=quatuorlineata |access-date=6 January 2016}} The four-lined snake is a non-venomous species and one of the largest of the European snakes.
Description
The species' common name refers to the markings seen on the body of adult snakes: four dark stripes running along a yellowish brown body.{{Cite web|url = http://www.snakeestate.com/rat-snakes/four-lined-rat-snake.html|title = Four-Lined Rat Snake |date = 2011 |access-date = 6 January 2016 |website = SnakeEsate.com }} Juveniles, by contrast, have a dorsal series of dark brown blotches with alternating dark brown spots on the sides, all on a pale brown background. A black line runs from the corner of the eye and the belly is cream to white with darker markings.{{Cite web |title = Elaphe quatuorlineata quatuorlineata (Four-lined snake) |url = http://www.reptilia.dk/Krybdyr_vi_har_holdt/Slanger/Elaphe_quatuorlineata_quatuorlineata/belaphequatuorlineataquatuorlineata.htm |website = www.reptilia.dk |access-date = 2015-12-08 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305150833/http://www.reptilia.dk/Krybdyr_vi_har_holdt/Slanger/Elaphe_quatuorlineata_quatuorlineata/belaphequatuorlineataquatuorlineata.htm |archive-date = 2016-03-05 |url-status = dead }} Adults can reach a length of {{convert|180|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}, rarely {{convert|200|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|title = Four-lined Snake |work=Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria |url = http://e-ecodb.bas.bg/rdb/en/vol2/Elquatuo.html |year=2015 |access-date = 2015-12-08}} Adults are among the heaviest European snakes but are greatly variably in size, with males potentially weighing from {{cvt|250|to|1000|g|lb|1}} and females potentially weighing from {{cvt|400|to|1400|g|lb|1}} within the Aegean Islands.Cattaneo, A., & Grano, M. (2013). The Aegean populations of Elaphe quatuorlineata (Lacépède, 1789): A morpho-ecological examination. Old World ratsnakes–A collection of papers. Bushmaster Publications, Berg SG, 269-288.
Distribution
Four-lined snakes are found in Italy, along the whole western coast of the Balkan{{Cite web |last=Academy |first=Reptile |date=2023-12-18 |title=Title: Distribution and Habitat Ecology of Elaphe sauromates: A Comprehensive Overview |url=https://jerusalem-snakes.com/2023/12/18/title-distribution-and-habitat-ecology-of-elaphe-sauromates-a-comprehensive-overview/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=מוקד לוכדי נחשים |language=he-IL}} peninsula, in the western half of Greece and many of the Greek islands, Macedonia (region), the southwestern corner of Bulgaria, coastal Slovenia, coastal Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania. The number of snakes and the density of the populations are unknown.
Habitat and behavior
The four-lined snake favours areas with a Mediterranean climate and is found in habitats featuring vegetation, stone walls, sparse woodland, forest margins and deserted buildings. In the winter, individuals spend their time in deserted rodent burrows in groups of four to seven. Their behaviour is generally calmer than that of other snakes (seldom hissing or striking) and they are usually active in the morning and late afternoon. Excellent climbers, they can often be found in the tops of trees.{{Cite web|title = Four-lined Snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata)|url = http://www.yerevanzoo.am/index.php?id=184&L=0&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1370&cHash=981bccd5a826b026bac91f349ca8a2b5|website = www.yerevanzoo.am|access-date = 2015-12-08}}
Diet
A large proportion of the snakes' diet consists of small mammals, such as rabbits, weasels, squirrels, and mice. They also feed on birds, lizards, newly hatched tortoises and eggs. Females of the species have been shown to feed more often upon birds than do males.{{cite journal |author=Ernesto Filippi |author2=Rugiero, L. |author3=Capula, M. |author4=Capizzi, D. |author5=Luiselli, L. |name-list-style=amp |year=2005 |title=Comparative food habits and body size of five populations of Elaphe quatuorlineata: the effects of habitat variation, and the consequences of intersexual body size dimorphism on diet divergence |journal=Copeia |volume=2005 |issue=3 |pages=517–525 |jstor=4098561|doi=10.1643/ch-04-350r1|s2cid=86012420 }}
Reproduction
Conservation
The four-lined snake has been considered endangered in Bulgaria due to poachers and agriculture. It appears on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as "Near Threatened" because of probable significant decline in its abundance and widespread habitat loss.
References
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Category:Reptiles described in 1789