close up shot of the head of an adult black western whip snake, hierophis viridiflavus, in malta

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