Horseshoe Whip Snake

The horseshoe whip snake is a fast, alert colubrid found in southern Spain, Portugal, and across northwestern Africa. Its name derives from a distinctive horseshoe- or U-shaped dark marking on the nape. It is harmless to humans, though it can be quick to bite if handled.

It is closely related to other whip snakes in the genus Hemorrhois and is a common sight in warm, dry Mediterranean habitats.

• Slender build with a long tail
• Base color yellowish-brown to olive with a series of dark, often black-edged blotches that may fuse into a broken pattern along the back
• Distinctive dark horseshoe- or U-shaped mark on the back of the head/neck
• Belly pale with dark checkered spotting
• Smooth scales and large eyes with round pupils

Found in dry, rocky, and scrubby habitats including hillsides, stone walls, olive groves, and coastal dunes. Occurs in southern Spain and Portugal and widely across Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, typically at low to moderate elevations.

Diurnal and extremely fast-moving, often described as one of the swiftest snakes in its range. Defensive when cornered, sometimes vibrating its tail and striking readily. Feeds on lizards, small mammals, and birds, hunted actively and swallowed alive. Oviparous, laying clutches of roughly 4-10 eggs.