Natal Purple-glossed Snake
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.
Southern Africa has just over 170 different types of snakes with around 11% considered potentially deadly. Adults may differ dramatically in colour and markings and juveniles usually resemble the adults but again may differ in colour, making identification problematic.
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.
A large, fast-moving diurnal snake that reaches a maximum length of 1.8 m. It is very quick to escape, invariably disappears down the closest hole but bites readily if handled. Because of its size and habit of lifting its head well off the ground, this snake is often mistaken for a Black Mamba or female Boomslang. It climbs well and is often found in shrubs.
A slow-moving nocturnal snake that is quite similar to the Brown House Snake in behaviour. It averages 30-60 cm but reaches 1.3 m in length. Commonly found around houses but prefers damp areas where it hunts for lizards, rodents and other snakes. Because of its colour, varying from olive-green to light brown or black, it is mistaken for a variety of other snakes including the Black Mamba and the Brown Water Snake.
A small adder that averages 25 cm in length. This is a desert specialist that inhabits the soft wind-blown dunes of the Namib Desert.
A very small, thin snake with highly polished scales and averages around 15-20 cm in length. The thread snakes resemble worms and it can be difficult to distinguish the head from the tail. They are burrowing snakes with cylindrical bodies and minute eyes. They feed on invertebrates, especially termites and ants.
A small adder averaging 30 cm with a maximum size of 35 cm. This endemic snake is listed as Endangered in the current Reptile Atlas. It is largely limited to grasslands above 1,500 masl in the Sneeuberg range and the surrounding mountains of Graaff-Reinet.
The Puff Adder is widespread over much of southern Africa and further north into Africa. It is a heavy-bodied snake that relies on its excellent camouflage and is reluctant to move. Much of its life is spent in camouflage mode and recent research has shown that when hiding, the Puff Adder will not hiss or strike when approached, as this would give away its presence.
A harmless little snake that averages 15-25 cm with a maximum length of 30 cm. The Pygmy Wolf Snake inhabits lowland forests, grasslands and mesic savanna in northern Zululand northwards into southern Mozambique.
A smallish slender snake that averages 40 cm with a maximum length of 54 cm. It is grey to olive brown above, often with dark-edged scales, and with a dark collar on the nape. Juveniles have up to 12 dark blotches down the neck onto the back that fade with age.