Some pictures from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago

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Re: Some pictures from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago

Postby Ruggero M. » Sat May 25, 2019 1:13 pm

I went this May to Cres and Losinj, but with few success, due to bad weather conditions.
I could see a group of three E.quatuorlineata during courtship/mating.
A fourth specimen was probably nearby, but I could only see its tail while it was escaping.
The following day, a few meters away, I could see an actual mating inside bushes, but I could take only one picture: the big female took with herself the male, which was dragged by her backwards inside the bushes.

I also have a short footage of the "group": sorry for the bad quality. https://youtu.be/tswnXCU5x9k
Ruggero M.
 
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Re: Some pictures from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago

Postby Ruggero M. » Sat May 25, 2019 1:20 pm

Some pictures.
The group.
cervone1.jpg

cervone2.jpg

cervone3.jpg

cervone4.jpg

cervone5.jpg

cervone6.jpg

cervone7.jpg

cervone8.jpg

cervone9.jpg

cervone10.jpg


The mating pair hidden inside bushes in shadow
cervonepaarung.jpg
Detail of a mating pair the following day
Ruggero M.
 
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Re: Some pictures from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago

Postby Ruggero M. » Sat May 25, 2019 1:28 pm

Interestingly a leopard snake was present always in the same spot of year(s) ago... :lol:

leo.jpg
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Re: Some pictures from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago

Postby Ruggero M. » Sat May 25, 2019 1:35 pm

I could also see a big female Natrix natrix with two small males on her back, but the pictures taken by my friend Massimo are not good enough to be posted. The female flew away, but one small male remained on her back during her flight like a "remora fish".
I coud see another big female far from water in Losinj Island: I will post her picture because of her beautiful yellow/orange collar and supralabials.

natrix.jpg
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Re: Some pictures from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago

Postby Ruggero M. » Sat May 25, 2019 1:42 pm

We could also spot a big Malpolon male which observed us with the head almost one meter above ground. We returned there after a couple of hours in order to see it again, but I could observe in the same place for a second or two a Malpolon which was "probably" another specimen: it seemed to me to be smaller and rather brownish in colour. I think male and female could be hiding in the same spot!

Here is a female specimen in situ from Losinj island.

Malpolon1.jpg

Malpolon2.jpg

Malpolon3.jpg
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Re: Some pictures from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago

Postby Ruggero M. » Sat May 25, 2019 1:46 pm

One of the many gemonensis...

gemo.jpg

gemo2.jpg
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Re: Some pictures from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago

Postby Ruggero M. » Sat May 25, 2019 1:54 pm

And two "calico" Ophisaurus...

The second one is of a stunning "red blotched" line... :lol:
But I could not take a good in situ picture... :roll: so I decided to return to its hiding place in order to take a picture of its colours and markings.

Pseudo1.jpg
In situ

Pseudo2.jpg
Another specimen of this pale and blotched type
Ruggero M.
 
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Re: Some pictures from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago

Postby Ruggero M. » Mon Jun 22, 2020 10:00 am

This year I stayed only 7 days there, and there was nothing particular to find.
But I could observe an interesting fact: a group of four quatuorlineata together.
The first snake of the group fled away to the bushes, while the second snake was attempting to stop it, by biting its back, not far from the beginning of the tail.
Then the third one and the fourth one followed, just like a "snake-train" or a "snake-chain".
I've pictures of this group, in situ, but not of their way of escaping, all in a chain.
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Re: Some pictures from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago

Postby Ruggero M. » Tue Jun 23, 2020 12:26 pm

gruppo1.jpg
The 4 snakes in group, in situ

gruppo1bis.jpg
Same

gruppo2.jpg
Same

male.jpg
Same place in another moment: a male

interaction.jpg
Same place in another moment: 2 specimens
Ruggero M.
 
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Re: Some pictures from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago

Postby Ruggero M. » Tue Jun 23, 2020 12:29 pm

Totally different place, at the sea shore.

mare1.jpg

mare2.jpg

mare3.jpg
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