Balkan whip snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Balkan whip snake |
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|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hierophis
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| Species: |
gemonensis
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| Synonyms | |
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Coluber gemonensis Laurenti, 1768 |
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The Balkan whip snake (scientific name: Hierophis gemonensis) is a type of snake that belongs to the Colubridae family. You can find this snake in countries like Italy and Greece, as well as many Balkan countries. It lives in places with Mediterranean plants, like bushy areas, fields, farms, and gardens.
Even though some of its homes are disappearing, experts at the IUCN say it's not currently in danger. They list it as "least concern".
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Meet the Balkan Whip Snake
The Balkan whip snake is a slim snake. It usually grows to be less than a metre (about 3 feet) long. Some can even reach up to 130 centimetres (about 4 feet).
What Does It Look Like?
This snake has a head that stands out from its body. It also has big eyes with round pupils. The front part of its body is often olive-grey or yellowish-brown. It has dark spots that are separated by lighter areas. These spots might look like irregular stripes.
Some of its scales might have small white specks. Further down its body, the dark spots often form lines. This makes the snake look striped. Its belly is usually whitish or light yellow. Sometimes, there are spots on the sides of its neck.
Where Does It Live?
The Balkan whip snake lives in the very northeastern part of Italy. You can also find it in countries that used to be part of Yugoslavia. These include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia. It also lives in mainland Greece and many islands nearby.
Its Favorite Places
This snake likes rocky areas and places with loose stones. It also lives in scrubland, open forests, and along roadsides. You might even spot it near old buildings or ruins.
How Does It Behave?
The Balkan whip snake is active during the day. It mostly stays on the ground. However, it can sometimes climb through low plants. It is a very fast and quick snake.
What Does It Eat?
This snake is a hunter. It eats lizards and large insects like grasshoppers. It also preys on baby birds in their nests. Sometimes, it will eat small mammals too.
Snake Families
Female Balkan whip snakes lay clutches of eggs. Each clutch usually has four to ten oval-shaped eggs. These eggs are about 30 millimetres long and 17 millimetres wide.
Winter Sleep
When winter comes, these snakes go into hibernation. They find safe places to sleep, like cracks in rocks or animal burrows. They might even use old sheds or outbuildings. Sometimes, several snakes will share a hibernation spot to stay warm.
Is It Safe?
The Balkan whip snake lives across a wide area. It is quite common in many of the places it calls home. However, its habitat is shrinking in some areas. This can happen because of farming, fires, or pollution.
Even with these challenges, the IUCN has looked at its numbers. They have decided that the Balkan whip snake is a species of "least concern". This means it is not currently at high risk of disappearing.
See also
- List of reptiles of Italy
