Dolichophis caspius
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
The Caspian whipsnake (Dolichophis caspius, sometimes also Coluber caspius) also known as the large whipsnake (among various other species in genus Dolichophis/Coluber), is a common species of whipsnake found in the Balkans and parts of Eastern Europe.
The Caspian whipsnake is perhaps the largest species of snake in Europe. It typically grows to around 140–160 cm (55–63 in) in length, though a few may exceed a length of 200 cm (79 in). The record sized specimen was approximately 250 cm (98 in) Body mass can be commonly from 120 to 673 g (4.2 to 23.7 oz). This species is not venomous and is mostly active during the day. The head is joined to the body by a thick neck. Its pupils are round. Nineteen rows of smooth scales can be found at the middle body, though rarely there may be seventeen. Dorsal scales each have two apical pits at the posterior edge. The centre of the scale is lighter in colour than the edges. The dorsal side is grey-brown and features markings which are distinctive in juveniles and young snakes but fade with age. The ventral side is light yellow or white.
Since its original description by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Istanbul | 🇹🇷 Turkey |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zagreb Zoo | 🇭🇷 Croatia |
No species of the same family or order lives in Istanbul, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Caspian Whipsnake sighting in Istanbul on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 9th most-seen of the 9 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Caspian Whipsnake in Istanbul on a given day, against under 5% in July to May, the lowest months.
Only Istanbul, in our data
Istanbul is the only city on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Caspian Whipsnake sightings: about 10% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Caspian Whipsnake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Istanbul (7 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
