Smooth snake Coronella austriaca (Serpentes: Colubridae), a new species for the ophidiofauna in the Orenburg State Nature Reserve (Russia)

Abstract

A report on the discovery of the smooth snake Coronella austriaca in the cluster area «Aytuarskaya steppe» of the Orenburg State Nature Reserve (Russia, Orenburg region, Kuvandykskiy district) on the 24 July 2017 is given. This is the first recording of the species for the Orenburg region on the left bank of the River Ural. The specimen was a pregnant female in molting state. The capture location (51°06.161′N, 57°41.853′E, 279 m a.s.l.) is at the top of a ridge with outcrops of bedrock occupied by rarefied petrophytic steppe plant communities. Among other reptiles inhabiting the location, only the lizard Lacerta agilis was registered, which is, presumably, the most frequent prey for the smooth snake.

Keywords

• Aytuarskaya steppe
• habitat
• new location
• Orenburg region
• Protected Area