LOCAL INFO 1 FAUNA LIST REPTILES OF KLOOF Natal Rock Python Scientific name Python sebae natalensis Ave. Length (cm) 300-400 Max Length (cm) 600 Dark brown with grey-brown blotches and dark speckling Distinctive Markings Distinctive markings, arrowhead marking on head - but dangerous constrictor Black Mamba Scientific name Dendroaspis polylepis Ave. Length (cm) 240-300 Max Length (cm) 450 Dark olive/greyish brown/gunmetal grey Distinctive Markings Coffin shaped head Usually fatal Neurotoxic Boomslang Scientific name Dispholidus typus Ave. Length (cm) 120-150 Max Length (cm) 200 Very varied - green/olive brown/dark brown to black Distinctive Markings Very large, emerald green eyes Extremely Dangerous Haemotoxic Olive Grass Snake Scientific name Psammophis mossabicus Ave. Length (cm) 100 Max Length (cm) 180 Upper: olive brown, underside: white or yellowish Distinctive Markings Black-edged scales forming longitudinal dark lines Mildly Not classiffied Mozambique Spitting Cobra Scientific name Naja mossambica Ave. Length (cm) 100-120 Upper: slate grey to olive brown, underside: pink or yellowish - may have black Distinctive Markings Typical cobra head, may play dead Extremely Dangerous - spits readily Mainly cytotoxic with slight neurotoxic symptoms Rinkhals Scientific name Hemachatus Haemachatus Ave. Length (cm) 100 Variable: olive brown to dark brown or dull black with dark crossbands Distinctive Markings White bars on throat, may play dead, cobra head Extremely dangerous Neurotoxic Brown House Snake Scientific name Lamprophis capensis Ave. Length (cm) 60-30 Reddish brown or dark olive to black Distinctive Markings Distinctive light stripe on sides
Puff Adder Scientific name Bitis arientans Ave. Length (cm) 90 Max Length (cm) 140 Variable: yellow, orange-brown, light brown or grey with distinct dark chevron markings Distinctive Markings Fat body, triangular head, distinctive chevrons Extremely dangerous Cytotoxic Spotted Bush Snake Scientific name Philothamnus semivariegatus Ave. Length (cm) 60-90 Max Length (cm) 130 Upper: bright green with black crossbars, underside: greenish white to yellowish Distinctive Markings Blue-green head Olive House Snake Scientific name Lamprophis inornatus Ave. Length (cm) 45-75 Max Length (cm) 130 Variable: olive green, olive grey or light brown Distinctive Markings Small eyes, very uniform colour - no markings Natal Black Snake Scientific name Macrelaps microlepidotus Ave. Length (cm) 60-30 Jet black Distinctive Markings Scales are prominent Mildly Short Snouted Grass Snake Scientific name Psammophis brevirostris Ave. Length (cm) 60 Upper: olive brown with pale dashed medial line, underside: white or yellow Distinctive Markings Stripes down body Mildly Southern Twig Snake Scientific name Thelotornis capensis Ave. Length (cm) 80 Upper: ash grey or grey brown, head is pale blue-green, heavily speckled, underside: white / grey Distinctive Markings Is well camouflaged on tree, distinctive dark stripe on side of head Extremely Dangerous Haemotoxic Rhombic Egg-eater Scientific name Dasypeltis scabra Ave. Length (cm) 45-75 Max Length (cm) 116 Upper: light brown to dark brown with dark squarish blotches, underside: white Distinctive Markings Distinctive pattern from dark rhombic blotches, V-marking on neck (not head) Rhombic Night Adder Scientific name Causus rhombeatus Ave. Length (cm) 30-60 Variable: light grey, olive or pinkish brown with distinctive rhombic markings Distinctive Markings Distinct V-marking on head, short head Mildly Cytotoxic
Green Water Snake Scientific name Philothamnus hoplogaster Ave. Length (cm) 60 Bright emerald green Distinctive Markings Round pupil, occassionally has black bars on front Brown Egg-eater Scientific name Dasypeltis inornata Ave. Length (cm) 60-75 Yellowish red to reddish brown Distinctive Markings Very small head Herald Snake Scientific name Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia Ave. Length (cm) 45-70 Olive green to grey with white speckles Distinctive Markings Distinctive white speckles, head is usually darker than rest of body Mildly Sundevall s Garter Snake Scientific name Elapsoidea sundevallii (R) Ave. Length (cm) 75 Slate grey/black with pale bands Distinctive Markings Pointed head Dangerous Natal Purple-glossed Snake Scientific name Amblyodispas concolor Ave. Length (cm) 35-50 Max Length (cm) 85 Glossy dark brown to black with purplish sheen. Underside is paler. Distinctive Markings Blunt head with very small eyes Mildly Brown Water Snake Scientific name Lycodonomorphus rufulus Ave. Length (cm) 45-60 Max Length (cm) 85 Upper: blackish to olive brown, underside: mother-of pearl, pink or yellowish Distinctive Markings Underside is like mother-of-pearl. Pupils are vertical. Southern Stiletto Snake Scientific name Attractaspsi bibronii Max Length (cm) 70 Purple brown to black Distinctive Markings underside may be creamy white or dark brown to black Dangerous Spotted Harlequin Snake Scientific name Homoroselaps lacteus (R) Max Length (cm) 65 Variable: yellow with black bars, blackwith yellow dots on each scale Distinctive Markings Very brightly coloured Mildly venomous
Black File Snake Scientific name Mehelya nyassae Ave. Length (cm) 35-50 Max Length (cm) 65 Purple-brown to blackish Distinctive Markings Mauvish pink skin between scales Common Wolf Snake Scientific name Lycophidion capense Max Length (cm) 64 Upper: dark brown, purplish brown or black, underside: usually white Distinctive Markings Very flat head, white-edged scales create a speckled effect Spotted House Snake Scientific name Lamprophis guttatus Ave. Length (cm) 30-50 Max Length (cm) 62 Upper: yellowish brown to pinkish grey with red-brown spots, underside: white Distinctive Markings Dark blotches formong pattern on back Bibron s Blind Snake Scientific name Typhlops bibronii Ave. Length (cm) 30-38 Max Length (cm) 48 Shiny dark to olive brown Distinctive Markings Difficult to see eyes - seems blind but it is not! Only seen after heavy rains Southern Slug-eater Scientific name Duberria lutrix Ave. Length (cm) 30-35 Max Length (cm) 43 Distinctive Markings Upper: brown with distinctive reddish-brown band along centre of back, underside: cream Small head, distinctive stripe on back Reticulated Centipede-eater Scientific name Aparallactus capensis Ave. Length (cm) 20-30 Max Length (cm) 40 Upper: yellowish red or reddish brown or grey-brown, underside: white Distinctive Markings Black head Mildly No effect on humans Peters' Worm Snake Scientific name Leptotyphlops scutifrons Ave. Length (cm) 18-20 Max Length (cm) 28 Reddish brown to black Distinctive Markings Cylindrical body, looks highly polished, head is indistinguisable Forest Thread Snake Scientific name Leptotyphlops sylvicolus Ave. Length (cm) 5-10 Max Length (cm) 12 Black Distinctive Markings Cylindrical body, looks highly polished
Flap-neck Chameleon Scientific name Chameleo dilepsis dilepsis Ave. Length (cm) 10-15 Max Length (cm) 35 ing ranges through various shades of green, yellow and brown Distinctive Markings changes to adapt to background Tree Agama Scientific name Agama atricollis Ave. Length (cm) 20-30 Max Length (cm) 35 Greyish with black and brown speckled markings Distinctive Markings Males have distinctive blue head in breeding period Bite can be painful Variable Skink Scientific name Mabuya varia Ave. Length (cm) 10-15 Max Length (cm) 20 Light brown with reddish brown head and neck above and dark dorsal spots fusing into longitudinal stripes Distinctive Markings Dark wide longitudinal band on flank Cape Terrapin Scientific name Ave. Length (cm) 20 Max Length (cm) 32 a drab greeny brown Distinctive Markings very flattened appeaance n/a n/a Duirnal Water Monitor / Leguaan Scientific name Varanus niloticus Ave. Length (cm) 150-200 Max Length (cm) 270 Distinctive Markings Gray-brown or dark olive with darker reticulation, and 6-9 bands or bands of yellow Yellow-gold spots in bands Bite and tail strike can be painful Last Update: 17 April 2015 Notes: 1) This list was originally sourced from the Friends of Krantzkloof web-site and contains the recorded observations of the Honorary Officers at Krantzkloof Nature Reserve 2) The original list has been updated using information from Snakes of Southern Africa by Johann Marais, Publisher: Struik Nature 3) This list is not a result of a scientific study and should not be taken as such - it is meant for general guidance and to increase environmental awareness 4) Any suggestions for improvements/additions/corrections would be most welcome - please contact Kloof Conservancy via the Contact Us link on the home page