Mole Snake Some Facts
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Mole Snake Some Facts Scientific name: Pseudaspis cana Taxonomy: Serpentes - Family: Lamprophiidae Is found where: Most of Southern Africa (Common in Gauteng and Mpumalanga) Venomous: HARMLESS - BUT IT CAN GIVE A NASTY BITE Venom type: Non-venomous Venom effects: The snake is not venomous, but be careful for its bite, it is foul tempered which hiss loudly and strike with gaping mouth, this cause them often being mistaken as venomous. They have pin-sharp teeth and is capable of quite serious bites that may even require stitches. Mole snakes have strong teeth with an edge on the back of each tooth, like the blade of a knife, and when they bite they often move the head up and down like a tin opener and can do real damage. Distinctive attributes: In mature individuals, the body is mostly one colour, and may vary from yellow to brown to grey, and in some cases, solid black. The young have dark markings and spots that are gradually lost as the individual ages. Colour may be related to geography; in the south, most specimens are black, whereas specimens found in the northern part of their range are brown, reddish-brown, grey, or yellow. The head is small with pointed snout, and are not distinct from the body Length: The average length is between 1 to 1,5m in total (In the Cape peninsula some were found reaching 2 m in length) Diet / Feeding: Their diet consist of hunting moles, but also include other species of rodents, nestling birds (especially ground dwelling species) and eggs..