1 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course Module # 4 - Component # 7 Typical Snakes Part # 3 Species Species covered in this component endemic to the Lowveld include: Rhombic Egg Eater Southern Brown Egg Eater Mole Snake Cape File Snake Black File Snake Eastern Tiger Snake Herald Snake Rufous Beaked Snake Eastern Bark Snake Common Slug Eater Boomslang Southern Twig Snake Typical Snakes Part # 3 © Copyright This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus 2 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course Rhombic Egg Eater Dasypeltis scabra Characteristics: Normally brown with dark and light vertebral blotches Dorsal blotches adjacent to white/light vertebral blotches V - shape on the neck Strongly keeled scales When hassles will coil up making a hissing sound striking out showing black lining of the mouth Typical Snakes Part # 3 © Copyright This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus 3 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course Other Names: Common Egg Eater, Gewone eiervreter Habitat: Occurs in most habitats in Southern Africa. Reproduction: Oviparous, having up to 25 eggs Description: They are often misidentified with the venomous Rhombic Night Adder. The main differences are the rounded head shape and the V-Marking is on the neck of the Egg Eater as opposed to the head. The colouration is also more patterned. They have dark patches that run along the back on a light / dark or grey-brown colour. The dark patches then alternate position and extend down the side of the body. The ventral scales are usually white in colour and may have some black spots. When confronted they continuously move their coils causing a hissing sound by rubbing the keeled scales together. The head remains motionless and will strike out exposing a black mouth, but rarely do they actually strike the threat. They have practically no teeth in the mouth. They have also been observed inflating the neck region when initially handled. They take the egg into the mouth and move it into the neck region where it gets partially slit open by two bones, which are extensions of the vertebrae. Once cut they will contract, squeezing the contents into the stomach and then regurgitate the shell. Distribution: Distribution of the Rhombic Egg Eater Typical Snakes Part # 3 © Copyright This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus 4 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course Southern Brown Egg Eater Dasypeltis inornata Characteristics: Plain brown in colour Non-distinct head Keeled scales Warren Schmidt Typical Snakes Part # 3 © Copyright This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus 5 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course Other Names: Suidelike bruin eiervreter Habitat: Grassland and coastal bush. Reproduction: Oviparous, having up to 17 eggs Description: This species does get misidentified with the Brown House Snake, but it does not have the two lines through the eye like the Brown House Snake. The ventral scales are white to cream and the body is uniform in colour, varying from light to dark brown, olive- brown to a reddish-brown that lightens towards the ventral scales. They take the egg into the mouth and move it into the neck region where it gets partially slit open by two bones, which are extensions of the vertebrae. Once cut they will contract, squeezing the contents into the stomach and then regurgitate the shell. Warren Schmidt Typical Snakes Part # 3 © Copyright This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus 6 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course Distribution: Distribution of the Southern Brown Egg Eater Typical Snakes Part # 3 © Copyright This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus 7 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course Mole Snake Pseudaspis cana Characteristics: Thick stocky snake with a non-distinct head Aggressive species often hissing and striking Adults plain brown to black (Western Cape) Hatchling rhombic patterning Pointed or bullet-shaped head Typical Snakes Part # 3 © Copyright This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus 8 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course Other Names: Molslang Habitat: It is widespread through most habitats in Southern Africa and is more commonly found in grassland areas. Reproduction: Ovoviviparous, having 20-50 young, over 90 has been recorded Description: The head of this snake is pointed in all directions and there is very little difference between the body and the head. This is because for much of their time they burrow in search of prey. They are large stocky snakes and extremely powerful constrictors. When first encountered or captured they are extremely aggressive and will hiss and strike out viciously ready to bite. Typical Snakes Part # 3 © Copyright This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus 9 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course An adult mole snake in “blue” Male combat is common and serious wounds are often inflicted on each other. They range from beige to dark brown in colour. In the western cape, they are almost black. The belly is lighter but also varied from a reddish colour to dark brown to beige. Hatchlings have a rhombic appearance of blacks, grey and white and sometimes varying shades of brown depending on the area. The ventral scales are usually whitish. Typical Snakes Part # 3 © Copyright This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus 10 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course Distribution: Distribution of the Mole Snake Typical Snakes Part # 3 © Copyright This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus 11 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course Cape File Snake Limaformosa capensis Characteristics: Triangular body shape Plain grey body with some patches missing scales White vertebral stripe Rarely bites but powerful foul-smelling musk Strongly keeled scales Other Names: Southern File Snake, Suidelike vylslang, Kaapse vylslang Typical Snakes Part # 3 © Copyright This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus 12 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course Habitat: It prefers savanna but occurs in the coastal plains, bushveld, thornveld and more arid regions. Reproduction: Oviparous – less than 13 eggs per clutch and 2 clutches may be laid in a season. Description: This species is easily recognisable by its triangular body and a white vertebral stripe. Their colouration is varied from a grey to brick red. They have very prominent scales and in places, scales are absent, for which the reason is not clearly known. The head scales are typical, and they have 2 rows of lingual scales. Despite its preferred prey, it is actually a very docile snake, rarely biting even when first caught. Similar to the Mole Snake they do musk with a foul-smelling liquid. Distribution: Distribution of the Cape File Snake Typical Snakes Part # 3 © Copyright This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus 13 – WildlifeCampus Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld Course Black File Snake Gracililima nyassae Characteristics: Triangular body shape Keeled Scales Dark brown to black in colour Other Names: Swart vylslang Habitat: It prefers treed area such as bushveld, coastal bush or forests, thornveld and savanna areas. Reproduction: Oviparous – less than 6 eggs in a season Description: This species is rarely encountered but is also very placid like the Cape File Snake. Also, when threatened they are known to place their head under the coils. They do not have the same triangular shape as the Cape File Snake, but the normal ‘round’ profile. They are normally dark brown to black in colour