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Description |
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The Coluber Riccioli (Coronella Girondica) is featured by an
oval head, with round pupils and the tip of snout has a rounded
profile. The body is slender with long tail. The coloration of
the back is grey-cream or reddish, with rosy tints on flanks in
the fully-grown males. It has elegant blackish stains on the
back, often placed in a kind of irregular zigzag along the
backbone. On the higher part of its head, a dark strip joins the
eyes with the corner of the mouth.. |
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Behaviour |
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The coluber Riccioli - extremely elusive, lonely and nocturnal –
spends its days under stones and rocks, rock cavities and in
thick bushes. The males fight for the females during the mating
period (May) and the females can lay down from 2 to 6 eggs at
the end of July..
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Feeding |
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It mainly preys lizards, slowworms and big terrestrial
arthropods (chilopoda). |
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Habitat |
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The Coluber Riccioli lives in herbose grasslands, covered by
rock wrecks and dry stone walls of Mediterranean area. It is
very rare. |
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Presence |
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It is very difficult to confirm its presence through indirect
signs. The exuviae, even if hard to find and to identify, can be
useful evidences. |
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Sighting |
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Sighting is difficult because of its nocturnal habits and its
scare of the men. The Coluber leads a lonely life except of the
mating period (May) when it can be found in couples or in groups
of males on ritual fighting. |
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Life Span |
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Unknown. |
