Distribution of the species
In Europe, the Cat snake is distributed in the lands along the west coast of the Balkan Peninsula, Malta, mainland and island Greece, Northern Macedonia, the southwestern corner of Bulgaria, the Eastern Rhodopes, the southwestern shores of the Caspian Sea. In Asia, the species is found in Turkey, the Caucasus, Northwestern Iran, Northern Iraq, Turkmenistan, the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, Jordan, the Sinai Peninsula. In Bulgaria, the species is found only in Petrich-Sandanski valley, the southern half of the Kresna gorge and in the Eastern Rhodopes near Madzharovo. In Bulgaria it occurs up to about 700 m above sea level.
Description of the species (biological and ecological features)
The Cat snake in Bulgaria reaches total length of 110 cm, and in other parts of its range up to 130 cm. The head of the Cat snake is triangular, clearly separated from the body. It usually has a narrow dark spot in the occipital region. The eyes are relatively small, with a vertical pupil. The back is grey-beige, with large dark spots. The abdomen is whitish or yellowish, with very dark spots. The species is nocturnal. It comes out very rarely during the day (early in the morning or at dusk). It feeds on lizards, rarely on small rodents and newly hatched birds. Deep inside the mouth there are poisonous teeth with which it kills its prey. It is believed that the species is not dangerous to humans. Lays 6-9 eggs most likely in June-July. The young individuals do not differ in color from the adults and hatch in September. Reproduction in Bulgaria is not well studied. Excellent climbs on rocks, walls of buildings and more. The species inhabits mainly dry rocky and stony places with sparse grass vegetation and shrubs. It is also found in very sandy, flat places. The individual populations are completely isolated from each other.
Conservation status
Unknown.
Conservation state
The Cat snake is a protected species included in Annex 3 of the Biodiversity Act (BDA) and Annex II of the Bern Convention. The species is also included in Annex IV of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive). The Cat snake is part of the Red Data Book of Bulgaria (2015) with category “Vulnerable” (VU) and also included in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species with category Least Concern (LC).
*Note: For the description of amphibians and reptiles is used information from: Golemanski, V. & al. (eds). 2015. Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Vol. 2. Animals. BAS & MoEW, Sofia [English ed.: ISBN 978-954-9746-22-8 (IBER – BAS), 978-954-8497-18-3 (MoEW)]; Biserkov, V. (Editor), 2007. A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Bulgaria. Sofia, Green Balkans, 196 pp.; the website of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).