Green Whip Snake
Hierophis viridiflavus
This species is famous for its incredible speed and climbing agility, often scaling low bushes and stone walls in seconds to pursue prey.
- Scientific name
- Hierophis viridiflavus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Reptilia › Squamata › Colubridae › Hierophis
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Dry open areas, Mediterranean shrublands, stone walls, hedges, and open woodland edges.
- Diet
- Lizards, small mammals, nestling birds, and occasionally other snakes.
- Range
- France, Italy, Switzerland, Malta, Croatia, Slovenia
- Size
- 100-150 cm in length
- Lifespan
- 10-15 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, agricultural intensification, road mortality, and direct persecution by humans.
- Safe to approach?
- Defensive but harmless. This snake is non-venomous but highly agile and will bite repeatedly if cornered or handled. Maintain a safe distance of 1-2 meters and allow it to escape. If bitten, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water to prevent secondary infection.
The green whip snake or western whip snake ( Hierophis viridiflavus ) is a species of snake in the Colubridae family. There is a larger, often pure black variant found in Italy and Malta referred to there as 'Il Biacco'.
Photo: Marco Bertolini, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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