Olivier S. Pauwels, Maral Kadeyeva, Victoria Kovshar, Aidyn Sakharbayev, Fedor A. Sarayev, Samat Sarsengaliyev, Sergey Ukhov and Sagiden Yerbulekov (2020)

Colonization of artificial islands in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea by the aquatic snake Natrix tessellata (Squamata: Natricidae)

Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society, 55 (7):133-140.

Abstract

We report the colonization by the aquatic Dice snake Natrix tessellata of five artificial islands (A Island, D Island, DC 05, EPC 03 and EPC 04), built in the 2000s to house oil industry activities in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea, western Kazakhstan. We discuss possible modes of colonization (e.g., accidental transport by boat originating from the Bautino harbor in Mangystau Region; active swimming from the coast). We present several observations of predation on fish (Cyprinidae: Carassius auratus; Gobiidae: Neogobius caspius, N. fluviatilis and N. melanostomus) and on the Laughing frog (Ranidae: Pelophylax ridibundus).

Keywords

Open Access

URL https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343280297_Colonization_of_artificial_islands_in_the_Kazakh_sector_of_the_Caspian_Sea_by_the_aquatic_snake_Natrix_tessellata_Squamata_Natricidae

Related content: Scientific Heritage Service; Research Theme 2: Biodiversity inventory

Document Actions