Transcaucasian ratsnake
The Transcaucasian ratsnake '', also commonly known as the Gavand snake, is a species of nonvenomous ratsnake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to Western Asia and the Middle East. There are three recognized subspecies.
Etymology
The specific name, hohenackeri, is in honor of Rudolph Friedrich Hohenacker, who was a Swiss missionary, physician, and naturalist.Geographic range
Zamenis hohenackeri is found in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, southwestern Russia, Syria, and Turkey.Description
Zamenis hohenackeri may attain a total length of, which includes a tail long. Dorsally, it is gray with four alternating series of dark brown spots. Ventrally, it is reddish or yellowish, marbled or spotted with gray. On the head, there is a diagonal black streak from the eye to the corner of the mouth, and a vertical black line below the eye.Habitat
Zamenis hohenackeri is found in mountainous areas, at altitudes of, in a variety of habitats, from dry to wet, including agricultural areas.Behavior
Zamenis hohenackeri is terrestrial and diurnal.Reproduction
Zamenis hohenackeri is oviparous. Clutch size is 3–7 eggs.Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.- Zamenis hohenackeri hohenackeri
- Zamenis hohenackeri lyciensis
- Zamenis hohenackeri tauricus