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Hi,
I just returned from Krk Island. Can you help me with an ID of this juvenile? Found near Ponikve lake in the middle of the Island.




Thanks, soon I'll send the rest of photos.

For me its gemonensis! - body and head markings

Mario

I agree !

I remember this was once discussed on http://www.herpetofauna.at, but I can't seem to find it any more... Could you sum up the differences once again, please?

Thank you for an identification! As Jeroen I will be grateful for the differences between these two species.

It is very hard to give differences!
From literature:

Here are the summary of differences in head markings out of a paper by mine, printed at the end of this year or early 2013:
Hierophis gemonensis (following HENLE, 1993):
- between the eyes a "yellow", in the center broken line.
- at the back side of the Parietalia a "yellow" band, the collar is bordered by "yellow" lines = 3 lines on caudal side of head/neck.

Hierophis viridiflavus (following HEIMES, 1993):
- crossband between the eyes.
- yellow spot on each parietale.
- on caudal side of head/neck 3 light crossbands.

Therefore the only difference should be these two light spots on parietalia, but see this:


I dont believe in these differences!
Its the overall appearance, the small white spots on the dorsal scales (lower and upper edge of each scale) in gemonensis. Also the dorsal central blotches are much wider in viridiflavus.
And real babies, like yours, in viridiflavus the color is much more dull, the blotches are not so strong in contrast to the body color.

If you really want to know, you have to count the ventrals, but there´s a overlap too

Mario

Mario explained probably better than me, but H.viridiflavus does not have these spots on the body.
And this color ...

A young H.viridiflavus :


Edit : sorry, Mario is to fast !

Thank you both, I have a lot of learning to do.

Yesss!