Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

My folks are currently in Spain and have emailed me asking for any information on a snake that matches this description:

"nearly a metre long, quite thin, black with whitish diamond markings on its back."

Does anyone know of any European snakes that would match this?

Thanks,
Sutmae.

Well, there are only like 13 snakes which occur anywhere in Spain, and 4 of those only just edge into the northern part of the country. But the ones with blotches would normally follow the pattern of pale background color with dark blotches, not the reverse which your parents described. Sorry I couldn't be of help.

-Joan

My guess would be Coluber hippocrepis, the Horseshoe Whip Snake.

I have one that matches the description.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

I had some of those things years ago. I hated handling them worse than fast elapids...they were the meanest snakes in the world. Worse than a bad wild-caught coachwhip. I always came out of it looking like someone that owned a dozen kittens.

They can have additude...I'm lucky here. Mine (a female) strikes but settles after you pick her up.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."