Distribution and protection state of Coronella austriaca (Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae) in Kazakhstan

Abstract

The smooth snake (Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768) was known in Kazakhstan from literary sources and reptile collections by few findings within the boundaries of the modern Aktobe region in 1871–1956. The paper gives the coordinates and dates of the 2019–2022 findings in the West Kazakhstan region, where this species has not been met before. 3 individuals were met in Taskalinsky district (State Natural Monument of local significance “Mount Bolshaya Ichka”) and 7 individuals were in Burlinsky and Chingirlausky districts (State Botanical and Zoological Sanctuary of local significance “Mirgorodsky” and the south-eastern environs of this Sanctuary). The presented data make it possible to reliably include C. austriaca into the composition of the modern ophidiofauna of Kazakhstan, to clarify the southeastern border of its range, to characterize the territorial protection state of the species in the republic, and to propose to enlist this species into the Red Data Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan.