OLIVE GRASS SNAKE / OLIVE WHIP SNAKE

Psammophis mossambicus

This snake can be found from South of Durban in the Natal, northwards. Northern Transvaal and most of the Limpopo proince. The whole of Swaziland, Most of Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe and northern Botswana and northern Namibia.

This snake is often found near water, or in marsh areas. It lives in moist savannah and lowland forest biomes.

The colour of the snake is usually uniform olive brown (hence the name) or with black edged scales on the back, creating longitudinal dark lines. Often with speckles on the neck and head. (see Photos)
The underside is white to yellowish, often darker with speckles.

Adults may reach a maximum lenght of 1.8 meters.

This snake feeds on small reptiles and mammals, frogs, birds and other snakes. (Even Puff Adders and Mambas)

This snake is not dangerous to man, but a bite would be painful, the venom is only mild and may cause local pain and swelling.

The snake is mostly diurnal, and is a very active fast moving snake. It can also move with the front third of its body lifted off the ground like a Black Mamba. This is a very shy snake and would dissappear quickly when approached.

Scales at midbody is a 17 rows with 150 to 180 ventral scales and 82 to121 subcaudals. the anal shield is devided.

Louis van Niekerk

 

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