Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello.

Hopefully you experts here can ID this snake for me:

It was spottet in South Africa. Close to the coast ( less than 5km) on the edge of a forest close to a river. For those familiar with the South African country it was in the Umtamvuna Nature Reseve in Port Edward.

Size - rough estimate - 70cm to 1m

on this crop you can see the head section including the tongue (if that is of any interest/help)

If the images do not show up look here
www.pbase.com/ypsilon/image/59377877
www.pbase.com/ypsilon/image/59416856

Thanks in advance for any efford.

Greetz
Y

hi

since pbase is having problems again (they seem to have all the time), here is another source for the images:

iciclelanding.com/aperture?photo=110548&see_as=744&size=768&view=image

iciclelanding.com/aperture?photo=110549&see_as=744&size=768&view=image

thanks again.

Greetz
Y

I am fairly certain it's Lycophidian capense, probably subspecies multimaculatum. The only thing that throws me off is the size, as they aren't supposed to exceed about a foot and a half (50cm)in length. The head shape looks like typical for the genus.

~~Greg~~

Hi.

Thanks for your reply. I can't say for sure how long it was actually. The snake was not really patient.

I am yet to find more information on this species.

Greetz
Y

Greg,

Although you and I usually agree in snake IDs, I'm afraid this time I have to disagree.

That snake doesn't have the speckling between the scales and particularly on the snout I have seen in photos of Cape Wolfs.

The head shape and the even color lead me to the Olive/Black Housesnake (Lamprophis inornatus).
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Yeah, I have to weigh in on the side of the house snake.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Even though the subspecies I mentioned lacks the white speckling, I do believe y'all are right about it being a house snake. The wolf just doesn't get as long as that one, & the head shape is very similar in the two closely related genera.

~~Greg~~

hey!

you run http://www.kingsnake.com/housesnake/gallery.html right? If you like to include the picture in your gallery feel free to do so. (Eventhough I cannot say that it is a good picture photography wise). Maybe you add a link to my pbase site (http://www.pbase.com/ypsilon). If you need another size or anything: Feel free to contact me.

Greetings
Y

I will certainly save a copy of them and wehn I update the site (which could be a while) I will include them.
Thanks.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

for all your efford. I think I'll file it under African House Snake.

Greetz
Y

>>for all your efford. I think I'll file it under African House Snake.

Actually the "African Housesnake" is a name generally applied to the much more common Lamprophis fuliginosus. What you have photographed is the much less common and less widespread Olive or Black Housesnake (L. inornatus). It's a much cooler critter!
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas