Eastern Stripe-bellied Sand Snake
Like the other sand snakes this snake is very quick and active during the day, usually disappearing into the closest shrub when disturbed. It may be locally abundant.
Like the other sand snakes this snake is very quick and active during the day, usually disappearing into the closest shrub when disturbed. It may be locally abundant.
A slow-moving nocturnal snake that hunts for lizards, especially geckos, nestling birds, bats and small rodents. It is an excellent climber and spends its days hiding under the bark of trees or under rocks. It can often be seen crossing roads at night.
A slender, fast-moving diurnal snake that averages 50-80 cm, but may reach a length of 1.1 meters. It occurs largely in Kalahari thornveld and arid grasslands of the western Free State, Northern Cape and further north extending into Botswana and Namibia. Like many of the sand snakes, this species has stripes running down the length of the body.
A nocturnal snake that frequents suburban gardens, especially those with water features. It is a toad specialist and often eats toads that look far too large to swallow.
The Highveld Garter Snake is secretive and seldom encountered. Juveniles have 16 – 23 pinkish or orange-yellow bands on the body and tail that fade with age. Adults are usually plain blackish brown or dark brown with a lighter belly while some may still have traces of banding.
A slender snake that averages 40-60 cm with a maximum length of just over 1 m. It is very fast moving and active in the day when it hunts for lizards, including lacertids, skinks and agamas, but will also take small rodents. In some areas it is by far the most common snake and prefers hard, stony ground. Many individuals are killed by vehicles while crossing roads.
A slow-moving somewhat secretive snake but locally common and may be mistaken for a Spotted Skaapsteker. Adults average around 40 cm, but may reach a length of 63 cm. This snake is often found in reed beds and riverine vegetation but also found in fynbos and montane grassland.
This attractive nocturnal snake averages 50 – 60 cm but may reach 85 cm in length. Adults are red-brown to light brown with faint whitish crossbars, but juveniles may have very dark crossbars. It is an excellent climber that often shelters in hollow trees or under loose bark, as well as in thatched roofs. It hunts for lizards, especially geckos, and frogs at night.
A long and slender snake that averages 50-80 cm with a maximum length of 1.4 m. It has a light W pattern on the side of the head behind the eye. It occurs in arid Namib Desert and Karoo vegetation at low altitudes on the west coast of Namibia. The Namib Sand Snake hunts for lizards, rodents and snakes during the day, often with the front third of the body well off the ground.
A robust, slow-moving snake that averages 35-50 cm in length but may reach 85 cm. It is nocturnal and inhabits humic soil in well-wooded and forested areas as well as grassland where it is seldom seen.