Color and pattern variation of the Balkan whip snake,Hierophis gemonensis (Laurenti, 1768)

Authors

DANIEL JABLONSKI
MARTON SZABOLCS
ALEKSANDAR SIMOVIC
EDVARD MIZSEI

DOI

10.3906/zoo-1606-15

Abstract

In the present paper color and pattern variations of Hierophis gemonensis, a snake with little morphological variation, are described. For the first time, partially melanistic individuals were observed and described for this species. The identity of one of these snakes was corroborated by genetic means. Taxonomical circumstances and environmental causes of this color and pattern variation are discussed.

Keywords

Phenotypic plasticity, taxonomy, environment, mtDNA, Colubridae, Balkan Peninsula

First Page

363

Last Page

369

Recommended Citation

JABLONSKI, DANIEL; SZABOLCS, MARTON; SIMOVIC, ALEKSANDAR; and MIZSEI, EDVARD (2017) "Color and pattern variation of the Balkan whip snake,Hierophis gemonensis (Laurenti, 1768)," Turkish Journal of Zoology: Vol. 41: No. 2, Article 21. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1606-15
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/vol41/iss2/21