The Species of August 2014

Name: Cyprus whip snake
Scientific name: Hierophis cypriensis
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Dolichophis

Description
It is a slender snake up to 115cm long, without venom, with a well-formed head and large eyes enclosed by a white circle. It has a gray-olive color, or light gray to black with thin white lines up to the first half of the body. The abdomen is yellow to pale yellow.

Habitat
It is found in areas covered with shrubs or other vegetation, showing preference for shady wet areas near streams and fences.

Spreading
He lives mainly in the Troodos Mountains. This species is found at altitudes from 500 to 1400m.

Biology
It has the ability to move day and night. It is a very fast and agile snake and can move comfortably on uneven and rocky surfaces. It feeds on lizards, frogs, but also on centipedes and other arthropods.

Enemies
His main enemies are the man who kills him out of ignorance, some other snakes and the destruction of his habitats due to the continuous logging of forest areas in the Troodos mountain range.

It is an endangered species and is on the IUCN Red List of the World Union for Conservation of Nature.

Sources:
[1] http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/environment 
[2] http://www.iucnredlist.org/details

Image source:
http://www.mlahanas.de/Cyprus/Fauna/CyprusWhipSnake.html