Large-headed water snake

The large-headed water snake (Natrix megalocephala) is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae.

Large-headed water snake
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Natrix
Species:	N. megalocephala
Binomial name
Natrix megalocephala Orlov & B. Tuniyev, 1987

Geographic range

N. megalocephala is native to the Caucasus region, and has been recorded in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, and Turkey.[2]

Taxonomy

N. megalocephala was added to Annex II of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats in 1996, but as of 2005, taxonomic studies have recommended this taxon for removal, as it may not be genetically distinct from N. natrix natrix.[3]

References

1. Tuniyev B, Ananjeva NB, Orlov NL, Tuniyev S (2009). "Natrix megacephala". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009. Retrieved 2017-05-20.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)old-form url
2. Tuniyev, Boris; Ananjeva, Natalia; Orlov, Nikolai; Tuniyev, Sako (2009). "Natrix megalocephala: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009.old-form url
3. Kasparek, Max (7 October 2005). "Taxonomic status of Natrix megalocephala". Strasbourg: Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.