CAT SNAKE TELESCOPUS FALLAX Fleischmann 1831 KATZENNATTER

venomous

A small and slender snake which is backfanged. Named like that due to the sliced pupils at light. Identification: A smooth scaled snake, grey (Cyprus) to brown (Golan Hights, ssp. syriaca) with dark irregular maculations and a black collar. The head is broad with large scales (on ssp. syriacus grey in colour). The venter is yellowish-white with dun-coloured marblings. The Cat Snake is reaching a maximum size of approx. 70 cm. Biology: This snake is absolutely nocturnal, specialised on geckos and lizards hiding in cervices or under stones, possibly feeding also on nestlings of small mammals. It prefers dry and rocky terrain, stonewalls, ruins and old houses. The female is laying 7-8 eggs.

Distribution: Balkan countries, Greece & Aegean Islands, Turkey, Cyprus, Middleast to SW Asia. venomous and quite agressive when disturbed - with a viper-like behave, but not dangerous since this small snake hardly can place it's fangs and the venom is weak. When disturbed it also releases a strange smell.

The subspecies syriaca on a very untypical place - but for the photo this wonderful coloured specimen diserved a better background than some dusty soil...                                                                                                   Photo: Friml & Preiss 1997