The Horseshoe whip snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) on Ibiza: predator release in an invasive population

Research confirms the Enemy Release Hypothesis (ERH) for the invasive Horseshoe whip snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) on Ibiza, revealing that its population success is linked to the absence of natural predators. The study found a significantly lower tail breakage rate in the invasive Ibizan population compared to its source population in the Iberian Peninsula, suggesting reduced predation pressure due to the island's limited and naïve vertebrate community. This finding supports ongoing invasive snake trapping efforts on Ibiza, where the species threatens the only endemic vertebrate, the Ibiza wall lizard (Podarcis pityusensis). The research highlights how understanding predator dynamics can inform strategies for managing biological invasions.

Montes, E., Feriche, M., Alaminos, E., & Pleguezuelos, J. M. (2020). The Horseshoe whip snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) on Ibiza: predator release in an invasive population. Amphibia-Reptilia, 42(2), 249–254. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685381-bja10039