Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got this little guy at a show yesterday. The person selling it did not know what it was and we checked for any venom appratus and there was none. I reminds me of a glossy snake, but it is from egypt and it looks quite a bit different. I would say it is liek a racer or coach whip or some kind of whip snake but it moves slowly. It is incredibly healthy. It seems one of its first defenses is to sort of stiffen up. It will move a bit if you tickle its tail. Its nose is sort of like a shovel nose thing. So I know it is from egypt. It is some kind of snake that must make a habit of dggin in the sand or some kind of substrate. It does not bite at all. It is incredibly smooth. You cannot even feel individual scales. Huge eyes. The woman said she got it in a shipment that she had ordered 2 egyptian rat snakes and it ended up being an egpytina rat snake and this little feller. I very carefully popped him and he is a male. I realy like the little guy. Could someone please tell me what he is?

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Justin

2nd

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Justin

3rd

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Justin

Last one. This is the belly shot. It seems that if you pick him up and he knows you are there he will stay in the position you put him in. That is how I got this shot. He is not realy lethargic, I htink it has to be one of his defenses. Please help.

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Justin

Hey Justin defintly not a rat snake of any kind, its cool thogh i would say like a racer to? not sure i will look it up tough.
zach

That snake is clearly Malpolon moilensis.
It is sometimes known as the false cobra as it flattens its neck when threatened. They reach about 5 feet.

There are some good pics of one at this site - http://www.alsirhan.com/Animals/malpolon_moilensis.htm
however the text is in arabic.

There are likely other sites discussing this snake online.

I would suspect they are lizard and rodent eaters in the wild and that it might take mice in captivity.
I would be cautious handling it. Malpolon are rear fanged and when this snakes gets up to its 5 foot potential, a good bite could produce minor symptoms.

If you are trying to find information about its care, you might have better luck looking up its more familiar relative, the Montpellier Snake.
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Chris Harrison

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

Thanks! I have done a search on it but have foudn nothing except a few more pics. Do you think I should keep it on newspaper or a more natural substrate. I have always been a newspaper and paper towel guy but just whatever works best for the little guy. If you come across a care sheet or know someone with these little guys let me know. Thanks again!
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Justin

I don't think you are going to find a care sheet for this species. Look for a care sheet on Montepellier Snakes and you might find something useful that would apply.

I suspect the snake will do fine on artifical substrate assuming it has a secure hidebox. Try it, and if it eats and settles down, great. If not, then try Aspen.
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Chris Harrison

Care should be similar to Montpellier and Psammophis species. Doubt it will be too taxing, probably nervous and skitty though (and might be able to deliver a wallop if it bites you).

Lee.

Im not exactly sure of the species but im pretty sure it is one of the old world members of Coluber.

nevermind, i think its a montpeiller snake