Currently two subspecies are distinguished, a melanic (H. v. carbonarius) and a striped form (H. v. viridiflavus). The melanic form occurs in the eastern part of the range and the striped in the western part, with a contact zone throughout most of northern Italy.[2]
The green whip snake is a slender species with a small but well-defined head, prominent eyes with circular pupils, and smooth scales. The background colour is greenish-yellow but this is mostly obscured by heavy, somewhat irregular bands of dark green or black, particularly in the front half of the snake. The underparts are grey or yellowish and the tail has narrow longitudinal stripes. The young are a greyish colour and develop their full adult colouring by about their fourth year. This snake grows to a total length of about 150 cm (60 in).[3] In the northeastern part of its range, in Sicily and southern Italy, most individuals are blackish in colour. There is a larger, up to two metres (6.5 ft) long, often pure black variant – Coluber viridiflavus carbonarius (Bonaparte, 1833) – found in Italy and Malta.[4] referred to there as 'Il Biacco'.
Green Whip Snake (Hierophis viridiflavus), Lorraine, France
Statusedit
The green whip snake has a wide distribution and is very common within that range. The population is steady and faces no significant threats, apart from road kill and persecution, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".[1]
Biologyedit
These snakes mainly feed on lizards, skinks, frogs, mice, as well as on the young and eggs of small birds. This species lays four to 15 eggs.[1] They are very lively and when cornered, may bite furiously. They hibernate in winter.[4]
Venom and toxicityedit
Commonly regarded as non-venomous, it is described that a subject who endured 'sustained biting' of up to 5 minutes began showing suspect symptoms, including problems with neuromotor skills.[5] It has been recently discovered the presence of modified rear maxillary fangs in correspondence of a gland called the Duvernoy's gland, similar to the venom gland and involved in the production of toxins.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hierophis viridiflavus.
^ abcdeVogrin, Milan; Corti, Claudia; Pérez Mellado, Valentin; Sá-Sousa, Paulo; Cheylan, Marc; Pleguezuelos, Juan M.; Meyer, Andreas; Schmidt, Benedikt; Sindaco, Roberto; Romano, Antonio; et al. (2016) [errata version of 2009 assessment]. "Hierophis viridiflavus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T61449A86246670. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61449A12487580.en.
^Storniolo, Federico; Mangiacotti, Marco; Zuffi, Marco A. L.; Scali, Stefano; Sacchi, Roberto (1 June 2023). "Large scale phenotypic characterisation of Hierophis viridiflavus (Squamata: Serpentes): climatic and environmental drivers suggest the role of evolutionary processes in a polymorphic species". Evolutionary Ecology. 37 (3): 419–434. doi:10.1007/s10682-023-10234-8. ISSN 1573-8477.
^Arnold, E. Nicholas; Ovenden, Denys W. (2002). Field Guide: Reptiles & Amphibians of Britain & Europe. Collins & Co. p. 207. ISBN0-00-219964-5.
^ ab"SNAKES OF THE MALTESE ISLANDS". Retrieved 29 May 2018.
^Nuwer, Rachel (18 October 2013). "Some seemingly harmless snakes possess a secret venomous gland". Smithsonisn Magazine.
January 01, 1970
green, whip, snake, green, whip, snake, western, whip, snake, hierophis, viridiflavus, species, snake, family, colubridae, conservation, status, least, concern, iucn, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, animalia, phylum, chordata, class, re. The green whip snake or western whip snake Hierophis viridiflavus is a species of snake in the family Colubridae Green whip snake Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Colubridae Genus Hierophis Species H viridiflavus Binomial name Hierophis viridiflavus Lacepede 1789 Synonyms Coluber gyarosensis Mertens 1968Hierophis gyarosensis Mertens 1968 Contents 1 Geographic range and subspecies 2 Habitat 3 Description 4 Status 5 Biology 6 Venom and toxicity 7 See also 8 ReferencesGeographic range and subspecies editThis species is present in Andorra Croatia France Greece Italy Malta Slovenia Spain Switzerland and possibly Luxembourg 1 Currently two subspecies are distinguished a melanic H v carbonarius and a striped form H v viridiflavus The melanic form occurs in the eastern part of the range and the striped in the western part with a contact zone throughout most of northern Italy 2 Habitat editIts natural habitats are temperate forests temperate shrubland Mediterranean type shrubby vegetation arable land pastureland plantations rural gardens and urban areas 1 Description edit nbsp Close up of the head The green whip snake is a slender species with a small but well defined head prominent eyes with circular pupils and smooth scales The background colour is greenish yellow but this is mostly obscured by heavy somewhat irregular bands of dark green or black particularly in the front half of the snake The underparts are grey or yellowish and the tail has narrow longitudinal stripes The young are a greyish colour and develop their full adult colouring by about their fourth year This snake grows to a total length of about 150 cm 60 in 3 In the northeastern part of its range in Sicily and southern Italy most individuals are blackish in colour There is a larger up to two metres 6 5 ft long often pure black variant Coluber viridiflavus carbonarius Bonaparte 1833 found in Italy and Malta 4 referred to there as Il Biacco nbsp Green Whip Snake Hierophis viridiflavus Lorraine FranceStatus editThe green whip snake has a wide distribution and is very common within that range The population is steady and faces no significant threats apart from road kill and persecution and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of least concern 1 Biology editThese snakes mainly feed on lizards skinks frogs mice as well as on the young and eggs of small birds This species lays four to 15 eggs 1 They are very lively and when cornered may bite furiously They hibernate in winter 4 Venom and toxicity editCommonly regarded as non venomous it is described that a subject who endured sustained biting of up to 5 minutes began showing suspect symptoms including problems with neuromotor skills 5 It has been recently discovered the presence of modified rear maxillary fangs in correspondence of a gland called the Duvernoy s gland similar to the venom gland and involved in the production of toxins See also editList of reptiles of ItalyReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hierophis viridiflavus a b c d e Vogrin Milan Corti Claudia Perez Mellado Valentin Sa Sousa Paulo Cheylan Marc Pleguezuelos Juan M Meyer Andreas Schmidt Benedikt Sindaco Roberto Romano Antonio et al 2016 errata version of 2009 assessment Hierophis viridiflavus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009 e T61449A86246670 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2009 RLTS T61449A12487580 en Storniolo Federico Mangiacotti Marco Zuffi Marco A L Scali Stefano Sacchi Roberto 1 June 2023 Large scale phenotypic characterisation of Hierophis viridiflavus Squamata Serpentes climatic and environmental drivers suggest the role of evolutionary processes in a polymorphic species Evolutionary Ecology 37 3 419 434 doi 10 1007 s10682 023 10234 8 ISSN 1573 8477 Arnold E Nicholas Ovenden Denys W 2002 Field Guide Reptiles amp Amphibians of Britain amp Europe Collins amp Co p 207 ISBN 0 00 219964 5 a b SNAKES OF THE MALTESE ISLANDS Retrieved 29 May 2018 Nuwer Rachel 18 October 2013 Some seemingly harmless snakes possess a secret venomous gland Smithsonisn Magazine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Green whip snake amp oldid 1192670663, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
