close up of the skins and scales of a black western whip snake, hierophis viridiflavus

adult animal background black whip snake closeup coluber colubridae culebra curled up dangerous defensive eye fauna green hemorrhois herp hierophis viridiflavus hippocrepis macro photography malta maltese islands snakes mediterranean natural nature poisonous predator reptile reptilian scales serpent skin summer tongue venom venomous western whipsnake wild wildlife zoology