Horseshoe Whip Snake

horseshoe whip snake
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Colubrinae
Genus:	Hemorrhois
Species:	H. hippocrepis
Binomial name
Hemorrhois hippocrepis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Coluber hippocrepis Linnaeus, 1758 Natrix hippocrepis - Laurenti, 1768 Periops hippocrepis - Wagler, 1830 Calopeltis hippocrepis - Eichwald, 1851 Zamenis hippocrepis - Günther, 1858 Tyria hippocrepis - Cope, 1862[1]

The horseshoe whip snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) is a species of snake in the Colubridae family.

Geographic range

It is found in Algeria, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar and Tunisia.

Description

Adults may attain a total length of 1.5 m (5 feet). Its body is slender, and its head is wider than its neck. The eye is large, with a round pupil, and with a row of small scales below it. The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 25-29 rows, and the ventrals number 220-258. Dorsally it has a series of large spots which are either blackish or dark brown edged with black. There are series of alternating smaller dark spots on the sides. The lighter ground color between the spots may be yellowish, olive, or reddish. The dark spots are closely spaced, giving the appearance of a dark snake with a light pattern resembling a chain or a series of X's. There is a light horseshoe-shaped mark on the neck and back of head.^[2]

Habitat

Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, rocky shores, sandy shores, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, and urban areas.

Conservation status

It is threatened by habitat loss.

References

1. ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume I. London. pp. 409-410.
2. ^ Arnold, E.N. & J.A. Burton. 1978. A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. Collins. London. pp. 191-194.

• Miras, J.A.M., Cheylan, M., Nouira, M.S., Joger, U., Sá-Sousa, P. &Pérez-Mellado, V. 2005. Hemorrhois hippocrepis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 July 2007.
• List of reptiles of Italy

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