Colubridae
Large Whip Snake
HarmlessDolichophis jugularis
6 photographs of the Large Whip Snake. © Ruslan Salimgareev.
The Large Whip Snake (Dolichophis jugularis) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 21 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Large Whip Snake
Dolichophis jugularis, also known commonly as the black whipsnake and the large whip snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to West Asia. There are three subspecies.
Geographic range
Dolichophis jugularis is found in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malta, and Syria.
Habitat
D. jugularis is found in a variety of habitats including forest, shrubland, grassland, and freshwater wetlands, at altitudes up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
Description
Dorsally, adults are black, but juveniles are tan with darker small blotches. The juvenile pattern disappears when the snake reaches the age of three to four years.
Reproduction
D. jugularis is oviparous. Clutch size is 7–11 eggs.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Dolichophis jugularis asianus (Boettger, 1880)
Dolichophis jugularis cypriacus (Zinner, 1972)
Dolichophis jugularus jugularis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Large Whip Snake
- Is the Large Whip Snake venomous?
- No. The Large Whip Snake (Dolichophis jugularis) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Large Whip Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Large Whip Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Large Whip Snake dangerous?
- The Large Whip Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Large Whip Snake live?
- The Large Whip Snake has verified records in 21 countries, including Israel, Cyprus, Türkiye. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Dolichophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Dolichophis jugularis
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.