Snakes among citizens: distribution and ecology of the Aesculapian snake, Zamenis longissimus (Laurenti, 1768) in Bratislava revealed by citizen science.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Urban environments are increasingly recognized as important habitats for wildlife, yet information on how reptiles use urban environments remains scarce. The Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus), a non-venomous colubrid widespread in Central Europe, is considered a habitat generalist with a frequent association with human settlements. However, data on its occurrence and ecology in metropolitan areas are limited. To address this gap, we implemented a citizen science initiative in Bratislava, Slovakia, aiming to document the distribution and habitat use of the Aesculapian snake and to evaluate the potential and limitations of citizen science for reptile monitoring in urban environments.

Results

Between April 2019 and October 2022, a citizen science initiative was

SUBMITTER: Marko S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12676815 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature