Philothamnus semivariegatus | |
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Philothamnus semivariegatus, Soutpansberg, South Africa | |
Spotted Bush Snake hatchlings | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Colubridae |
Genus: | Philothamnus |
Species: | P. semivariegatus |
Binomial name | |
Philothamnus semivariegatus (A. Smith, 1840) | |
Synonyms | |
Philothamnus semivariegatus, commonly known as the spotted bush snake is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake, endemic to Africa.
P. semivariegatus is distributed from South Africa northward to Sudan, Uganda and from Guinea eastward to Tanzania and sited at Nigeria. [3]
The colour is bright green with black speckles. Average snout to vent length (SVL) is 60–90 cm (24–35 in).
Spotted bush snakes are mostly found in trees in bush and forest areas, where they hunt lizards and treefrogs. They are excellent climbers and swimmers, have very good eyesight, and are highly alert snakes. They are not territorial, and will roam great distances in search for food. Spotted bush snakes are very common and completely harmless. They are well camouflaged, naturally very nervous, and quick to escape from any potential threat. As such, suburban sightings are rare.
They can be very difficult to keep in captivity, being very nervous and reluctant to feed on anything but sympatric gecko species, but they are occasionally kept and bred successfully. [4]
Females can lay between 3 and 12 elongate eggs every summer, and each hatchling is about 25 cm (9.8 in) in total length (including tail).
Psammophis leithii, commonly called the Pakistan sand racer, Pakistani ribbon snake, or Leith's sand snake, is a species of rear-fanged snake in the family Psammophiidae. The species is native to South Asia. It is harmless to humans.
The berg adder is a venomous viper species endemic to mountainous regions in southern Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.
The many-horned adder is a viper species. It is found in certain rocky desert areas, mostly along the Atlantic coast of southern Africa, in western South Africa and southwestern Namibia. It has characteristic tufts of "horns" above each eye. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Bitis inornata is a venomous viper species found only in Cape Province, South Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Günther's dwarf burrowing skink, also known commonly as Günther's burrowing skink, was a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species was endemic to Natal, South Africa.
The Cape wolf snake is a species of oviparous, nonvenomous snake which occurs over a wide area of Southern, Central, and East Africa. Though docile and harmless, it may be confused with the very venomous stiletto snake.
Leptotyphlops distanti, also known commonly as Distant's thread snake or Distant's worm snake, is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is native to Southern Africa.
Bibron's blind snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is native to southern Africa.
Fornasini's blind snake is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.
The Cape file snake is a species of large, non-venomous snake endemic to Africa, belonging to the family Lamprophiidae.
Wahlberg's velvet gecko is a species of large gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species occurs exclusively in Southern Africa.
Dipsadoboa aulica, commonly known as the marbled tree snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Africa, and is mildly venomous to humans.
Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia, commonly known as the herald snake or the red-lipped snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa.
The olive marsh snake is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Amplorhinus multimaculatus, commonly known as the many-spotted snake or the Cape reed snake, is a species of mildly venomous snake in the family Pseudoxyrhophiidae. The species, which is native to southern Africa, is monotypic in the genus Amplorhinus.
Pachydactylus oshaughnessyi is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.
Nucras lalandii, also known commonly as Delalande's sandveld lizard, Delalande's spotted lizard, and Laland's lizard, is a species of wall lizard in the family of true lizards (Lacertidae). The species is native to Southern Africa.
Pedioplanis namaquensis, known commonly as the Namaqua sand lizard or l'Érémias namaquois, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa.
Pedioplanis undata, known commonly as the plain sand lizard or the western sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa.
Elapsoidea sundevallii, also known commonly as Sundevall's garter snake or African garter snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Southern Africa. There are five recognised subspecies.