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Horse Shoe Wip Snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis). Great Malaga Path

Diputación de Málaga
Culebra de herradura (Hemorrhois hippocrepis)

Horse Shoe Wip Snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis). Great Malaga Path

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Animal Life > Reptiles

IDENTIFICATION  

A big, strong and stylised snake (up to 170 cm long). The head stands out from the rest of the body due to its flattened and pointy shape. The eyes have a round pupil. In the upper part of the head, by the nape, a spot with a very open horseshoe shape is visible, which gives the species its name. The tail is very long and thin and is almost a quarter of the total length of the body. The scales are smooth (without keel or protruding longitudinal mid-line, like the hull of a ship) and shiny. The main colour is olive-brown, sometimes darker, and on that background, there are some dark oval spots with a white or yellow border, forming a rosary covering the whole back and flanks of the animal. The belly is white, yellow or orange, with dark spots on the sides. 

WHERE DOES IT LIVE (HABITAT)? 

This species adapts to almost all types of environments, provided they are not too cold. It is present in forests and Mediterranean scrub zones, agricultural areas and humanized environments, where it is very common: old houses, walls, roofs, parks and gardens. 

HOW DOES IT LIVE?

The horseshoe whip snake can be active both day and night. It is a snake with some very anthropophilic habits, which takes advantage of the human modified environments to take refuge, sunbathe, nest or look for prey. It is a species with a great ability to climb, so it can easily reach trees, roofs or rocky cliffs to hunt birds or small reptiles. It mainly eats amphibians, reptiles, birds and small mammals (small rodents or shrews). It is aggressive when handled and can even bite strongly, but it is not dangerous to humans as it is an aglyphous ophidian. That means that its lacks special teeth to inoculate venom.

HOW DOES IT REPRODUCE?

The mating season starts in Mid-may and lasts until June. Approximately one month after mating, the female lays from 3 to 10 eggs in a safe, warm and quite humid place.  The nesting period lasts about 50-60 days. The birth of baby horseshoe whip snakes occurs in mid-August or September.

WHERE CAN WE SEE IT IN MÁLAGA AND ON THE STAGES OF THE GRAN SENDA (LARGE PATH)?

It is very common and extends in the province of Málaga. It only disappears in the highest areas of the mountains. It is present in almost all stages of the Great Path (Gran Senda).

LEVEL OF PROTECTION - THREAT (INVENTORY)

The horseshoe whip snake is part of the List of Wildlife Species under a Special Protection System. This species does not seem to suffer great threats and is even favoured by the human presence in rural areas, provided that the level of alteration is not excessive. Its habitat must have shelters and prey. A relationship with humans exist just because it is a terrific hunter of small rodents, since the alteration of the rural and urban environment increase the presence of rodents. 

CURIOUS FACTS  

The alicante or alicántara is famous in the countryside: it is a very poisonous and dangerous reptile species. The expression "if the Alicante bites you, call the priest to sing to you" says much of what is thought about this being arisen from  popular culture. The horseshoe whip snake is one of the species linked with the alicante, in a very unfortunate way because, although it bites, actually it is not poisonous. Contrary to that, the horseshoe whip snakes do great work as human's banqueters, with whom they live much more than it is perceived. They are very efficient plague controllers (rats and mice), in spite of having a poor reputation and being the species that terrorizes as a protagonist every summer, when the news tells about the appearance of snake plagues in towns and cities.

SIMILAR SPECIES (IT CAN BE MISTAKEN WITH...) 

It can be mistaken for the Lastastes viper because they both have a similar dorsal pattern, a triangular head and a typical zig-zag movement reminiscent of the viper. It is easy to differentiate them. The horseshoe whip snake looks much more graceful and stylized than the viper. The viper's snout lifts upwards, the head lacks large scales or plaques on the upper part and its pupil is vertical. In addition, the viper also has "keeled" (prominent) scales. In this snake, the head has large dorsal plaques, the pupil is rounded, the snout is straight and the body's scales are smooth.

Routes where it can be observed

More information