The Horseshoe whip snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) is a nonvenomous species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southwestern Europe and northern Africa.
The body of the Horseshoe whip snake is slender, and its head is wider than its neck. The eye is large, with a round pupil, and with a row of small scales below it. The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 25-29 rows, and the ventrals number 220-258. Dorsally, it has a series of large spots that are either blackish or dark brown edged with black. There is a series of alternating smaller dark spots on each side. The lighter ground color between the spots may be yellowish, olive, or reddish. The dark spots are closely spaced, giving the appearance of a dark snake with a light pattern resembling a chain or a series of X's. There is a light horseshoe-shaped mark on the neck and back of the head.
These snakes are found in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia in North Africa, and in southern and central Portugal, southern, eastern, and central Spain, Gibraltar, southern Sardinia, and Pantelleria Island in Europe. Since the early 2000s, they have been reported from the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. They could have been introduced there by way of old olive trees imported from mainland Spain. Horseshoe whip snakes inhabit Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, rocky shores, sandy shores, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, and urban areas.
Horseshoe whip snakes are shy very fast-moving snakes. They can be active both during the day and nighttime hours. They live on the ground but are good climbers and can climb low bushes or along stone walls when searching for prey. During cold months of the year, Horseshoe whip snakes retreat for hibernation.
Horseshoe whip snakes are carnivores. Their diet includes small mammals, lizards, and birds.
These snakes are oviparous and females are known to lay up to 11 eggs. The incubation period lasts for around 2 months. Young females become reproductively mature at the age of 8 years old, while the males attain maturity when they are 5 years old.
The main threats to Horseshoe whip snakes include collisions with traffic, poisoning by agricultural chemicals, and capturing for use by local snake charmers.
According to the IUCN Red List, the Horseshoe whip snake is locally common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
