Psammophis mossambicus

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Olive grass snake
Psammophis mossambicus 186784514.jpg
Psammophis mossambicus 199436993.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Psammophiidae
Genus: Psammophis
Species:
P. mossambicus
Binomial name
Psammophis mossambicus
Peters, 1882
Synonyms
  • Psammophis thomasiGough, 1908 [2]
  • Psammophis sibilansPeters, 1882 [3]

Psammophis mossambicus, the olive grass snake, is a snake that occurs in the northeast of South Africa. The snake grows to 100 to 180 cm in length. The reptile lives in moist places near water. It is olive brown and the scales have dark edges and the belly is yellowish. It can also pick up its front third like the black mamba with which it is confused. The snake is active during the day and eats lizards, frogs, mammals and also other snakes. Its venom is considered moderate.

In Afrikaans it is known as olyfkleurige grasslang. [4]

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References

  1. Alexander, G.J.; Tolley, K.A.; Conradie, W. (2021). "Psammophis mossambicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . IUCN. 2021: e.T44980018A44980027. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T44980018A44980027.en .
  2. Gough, L.H. (1908) Catalogue of the South African snakes in the collections of the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, and the State Museum, Bloemfontein., Ann. Transvaal Mus. 1: 17-45
  3. Peters,W. (1882) Naturwissenschaftliche Reise nach Mossambique auf Befehl seiner Majestät es Königs Friedrich Wilhelm IV. in den Jahren 1842 bis 1848 ausgeführt von Wilhelm C. Peters. Zoologie III. Amphibien., Berlin (Reimer), 191pp.
  4. "Olyfkleurige Grasslang - Reptiele - Suid Afrika". southafrica.co.za. Retrieved 3 January 2022.