BALKAN WHIP SNAKE
This smooth scaled snake does not get bigger than a metre here on the island. The head is fairly distinct from the body and has prominent eyes with round black pupils. The Balkan whip snake is silver-grey to beige brown with dark spots separated by paler areas. There are often small white spots on some of the scales. The hind part of the snake has narrow beige and brown longitudinal lines. Juveniles show a similar pattern to the adults, only paler. The belly is either white or cream.
This snake is diurnal, which means it is active during the day. They prefer dry stoney habitats with shrubby vegetation, including pastureland and rural gardens. This is a fast snake, and they feed on lizards, large insects, ground nesting birds and mice. Females lay clutches of 3 to 10 eggs from May to June, with the juveniles emerging in late Summer. Balkan whip snakes hibernate during the Winter in small fissures, animal burrows or outbuildings. Sometimes several snakes will share a hibernation site.
This individual is a juvenile that I found in one of my planters. It was very lethargic and unfortunately died later that day.
