Hemorrhois

A group of agile, non-venomous snakes found across southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia. These snakes are members of the colubrid family, which is the largest snake family in the world, but they have some unique traits that make them stand out. Hemorrhois snakes are slender, fast, and strong climbers, perfectly adapted to life in rocky hills, scrublands, and semi-arid environments. They are sometimes called whip snakes because of their long, whip-like bodies and their ability to move quickly across open ground or dart up walls and trees.

A defining feature of Hemorrhois snakes is their bold patterns and coloration. Depending on the species, they can display rows of dark spots, zigzag stripes, or crossbands on sandy brown, gray, or olive backgrounds. This camouflage blends them into dry, stony landscapes and gives them a handsome appearance. Unlike venomous vipers with broad heads and slit pupils, Hemorrhois snakes have narrow heads and round pupils, signaling their harmless nature to humans. Yet despite being non-venomous, they can be quite defensive if threatened, hissing loudly, inflating their bodies, and striking repeatedly to scare away predators.

Hemorrhois snakes are excellent climbers, often surprising people by scaling walls, shrubs, or even entering rooftops while chasing lizards or birds. In some regions, locals see them as beneficial because they help control rodent populations in villages and farms. When threatened, some Hemorrhois snakes flatten their heads and necks in a way that makes them resemble small cobras, a clever bit of mimicry that may convince predators to back off. Unlike many snakes that hunt at night, they are diurnal, meaning they are most active in daylight—making them one of the more commonly seen wild snakes in their range.