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Caspian whip snake 

Grows up to 2 meters. The longest snake in Hungary.

(Photo: Judit Vörös)

The CASPIAN WHIPSNAKE is the longest snake in Hungary; total (body+tail) length can exceed 2 metres. Ground colour walnut brown, with silvery gloss on the sides and the neck. Dorsal scales have yellow longitudinal streaks, which together comprise stripes on the lower body. Head hazelnut brown with dark crown-like marking. Labials creamy white with dark lateral edges. Belly yellow or creamy white. Throat white with yellow spots, often rusty red on the sides. Eyes are large, brownish or grey, with round pupils.

Young differ from adults: their ground colour is silvery grey with a yellowish hue, with four rows (two on the back, one on each flank) of dark blotches along the body. In the young, the throat and labials are white, with the lateral edges of the upper labials dark, while the top of the head is greyish brown and the belly greyish yellow. Scales not keeled. 

Distibution map by our National Herpetological Mapping Program:

Colour pattern of the Caspian whip snake

Ground colour silverish-brown with a yellow streak in the middle of each scale. Head brown. Eyes are large.

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Caspian whip snake in defense posture

Szársomlyó is one of the best known habitats in Hungray. Readily attacks when feels threatened. 

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Young Caspian whip snake

The back of young is silvery with black dots.

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Belly of young Caspian whip snake

The belly of young is yellow, their throat is white.

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Portrait of a young Caspian whip snake

The eyes of young are even bigger than in adults, as compared to the head.

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Basking Caspian whip snake

On the tiny remnants of its habiats, it basks among rocks or in short grass, 

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Portrait of a young Caspian whip snake

The throat is white and the head is brown. At the border in between is yellowish or rusty.

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Head of the Caspian whip snake

The top of the head is brown. The enlarged scales are referred to as shields

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)

Dorsal scales of the Caspian whip snake

The dorsal scales are keeled and a creamy yellow streak runs in the midline of each. 

(Photo: Bálint Halpern)