| The horseshoe whipsnake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis or Coluber hippocreppis.) is a classic Mediterrenean species. It takes its name from the horseshoe patten along its body. In Spanish it is similarly called a culebra de herradura. In Spain, the horseshoe whipsnake is found thoughout the south and all along the Mediterrenean coast up to Barcelona. Scattered populations also present in the west. The horsehoe whipsnake favours sunny bare stoney ground. It makes up 9% of booted eagle's diet. More here at the excellent Vetebradosibericos.
A Horseshoe whipsnake in Granada
These photos were taken in Coto Molino del Rey, en Íllora, Granada by Juan R. Fernández Cardenete from the Plan Andaluz de Aves Acuáticas.
photo of a horseshoe whipsnake
I was confused by the two different Latin names quoted around for the whipsnake: Hemorrhois hippocrepis or Coluber hippocreppis.
Cyberlizard again:
All the colubrid snake genera are in a state of flux thanks to molecular analysis and some authorities are now saying that it should be Hemorrhois hippocreppis, which is a bit annoying as (a) it breaks up a longstanding tradition and (b) it doesn't roll off the tongue nearly as nicely! So I am going to put some soundings out to see if the new name is really justified, in most people's opinions, or whether it's just a case of someone trying to get their doctorate by a bit of fancy lab analysis.
18/07/2006 Yet another horseshoe whipsnake. This was sent to me for identification by Marcia who lives 45 mins inland from Malaga. She was sitting under on the patio when it dropped out of the grapevines above. "The snake was feasting on a small gecko and it would seem the snake plummeted to the patio from the vines because it was trying to eat its mid morning snack. On consuming its prey it swiftly returned to the olive orchard through a small hole in the wall". Cyberlizard confirmed ID, noting that the prey looks like Tarentola mauritanica , the Wall Gecko. Note the fly to the left, perhaps saved from the gecko
A horseshoe whipsnake in Almeria
This adult whipsnake taken by Su in her back yard somewhere in Almeria, who sent me this. She noted:
"There are a couple of this type of snake right by the house, slide around the walls, and are literally on the doorstep, and patio this is the bigger one - maybe 18'' and thumb thickeness in its biggest part. I am not keen on snakes, but am learning to live with them in the rambla below our land we have had a (?) metre long elaphae!"
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