Coluber cypriensis - Dolichophis cypriensis- Cyprus whip snake
The Coluber cypriensis snake was discovered by B. Schδtti in 1985.
Although it was detected in the past by other herpetologists, it was wrongly considered to be the C. jugularis jugularis snake (which is the black snake). It found only in Cyprus, in areas with altitudes from 100 to 1,400 m. It seems that its main area of distribution is the Troodos mountain range, where it is often seen.
It is a slim, non-venomous snake, with a well-formed head and large eyes surrounded by a white circle. The length of his body reaches up to 115 cm. Some are dark brown, others olive brown and have paler banding across their bodies. They have a defined white ring around their eyes. The belly is slightly yellow to pale yellow.
This snake is active day and night. It is a terrestial snake, but usually prefers wet areas near streams or hedges.
It inhabits rocky, scrubby terrain and is found in areas covered with shrubs or other vegetation, showing particular preference in shaded areas.
It is a fast and agile snake and can move comfortably on uneven and rocky surfaces.
It feeds occasionally with whatever it can find and its food varies from lizards, snakes, frogs, to centipedes and possibly other arthropods.
Their main enemies are humans who kill them out of ignorance, as well as other snakes.
Natrix natrix cypriaca – Grass Snake
The Cyprus Grass Snake is one of the rarest species of snakes in Cyprus and is in danger of extinction. It was first reported by Dr. J. Sibthorp who visited Cyprus in 1787. This snake was very common in Cyprus in the past, but its population began to decline significantly since the early 1960s and it was believed that it had become extinct. In 1992 H. Wiedl identified a small number of snakes of this species which, because of their size, require protective and management measures.
It is found in areas starting from sea level and reaching an altitude of 700m. It is especially found in a water dam and a stream on the northern foothills of the Troodos Mountains and a lake in the eastern part of the island.
It can reach 100cm in length, it is not venomous, it has a well rounded head and a round eye pupil.
There are three distinctive colour variants in Cyprus. It is usually grey but there are also several black snakes and a number of blackheads, marked with small bright spots called picturata.
It is active during the day and it is a water snake. It prefers wet areas, streams and hedges. It does not bite but it tries to defend itself by excreting a vile smelling liquid from its anal gland that is potent and nauseating.
It feeds on small fish and frogs.
Their main enemies are humans who kill them out of ignorance.
Chelonia mydas - Green Sea Turtle
Two species of sea turtles are found and reproduce in the Mediterranean, the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Caretta Caretta. Throughout the Mediterranean, the Green Sea Turtle breeds only in Cyprus and Turkey and a very small number of turtles breed in Israel. Its population is isolated in the Eastern Mediterranean and is genetically different from the Atlantic population where it originated about 10,000 years ago. The total female population of the Green Sea Turtle, i.e. the number of mother turtles, has been estimated to be between 500 and 1,000.
The size of the population makes the Green Sea Turtle a rare, endangered species.
Specifically, the Green Sea Turtle is, along with the Mediterranean Seal Monachus monachus, the most endangered species in the Mediterranean.
The reasons that have caused the decline in the Green Sea Turtle population are many. The largest decline in its population resulted from the massive overexploitation it suffered mainly in the 1920s and 1960s. Then a huge number of Green Sea Turtles, around 100,000, were killed for export to Europe, due to the high demand of turtle meat and turtle soup. The remaining population continues to face major risks because of the destruction of its breeding areas, which are isolated sandy beaches, due to the extensive tourist development near these beaches. Moreover, many small but also large turtles are drowned or killed when caught in the fishermen's nets.
The Green Sea Turtle carries a shell (carapace) that reaches 115 cm in length and is blackish in colour, while the underside (plastron) is whitish. It breathes through lungs and lays eggs in the sand in the summer. The eggs, about 120 in each nest, hatch at 7 weeks and the hatchlings are guided to the sea by instinct, which is the brightest spot in the night skyline.
The Green Sea Turtle does not lay eggs every year but every 2-3 years. The year it comes to give birth on the beach, it lays eggs every 2 weeks and makes about 3-5 nests. It feeds on marine plants and lives in waters up to 40 meters deep. Their life expectancy is about 100 years.
Green Sea Turtles have been a protected species in Cyprus since 1971 under the Fisheries Law. Since 1989 the Lara - Toxeftra area, which is their main breeding grounds, are protected by the Fisheries Regulations.