Reptiles Found in and around Kloof
Average Max Colour Type of
Count Common name Scientific name length (cm) length (cm) (Note: Colour variations frequently oocur so information is a guide only) Distinctive Marking / Features Venomous Venom Active Page
1 Natal Rock Python Python sebae natalensis 300 - 400 600 dark brown with grey-brown blotches and dark speckling distinctive markings, arrowhead marking on head dangerous - constrictor none cathemeral (day and night) 211
2 Black Mamba Dendroaspis polylepis 240 - 300 450 dark olive/greyish brown/gunmetal grey coffin shaped head usually fatal neurotoxic diurnal 95
3 Boomslang Dispholidus typus 120 - 150 200 very varied - green/olive brown/dark brown to black very large emerald green eyes extremely dangerous haemotoxic diurnal 135
4 Olive Grass Snake
Mozambique Spitting Psammophis mossabicus 100 180 upper: olive brown, underside: white or yellowish black-edged scales forming longitudinal dark lines mildly venomous mild - causing local swelling and nausea diurnal 153
5 Cobra Naja mossambica 100 - 120 150 upper: slate grey to olive brown, underside: pink or yellowish - may have black crossbars typical cobra head, may play dead extremely dangerous mainly cytotoxic with slight neurotoxic symptoms cathemeral (day and night) 108
6 Rinkals Hemachatus Haemachatus 100 150 variable: olive brown to dark brown or dull black with dark crossbands white bars on throat, may play dead, cobra head extremely dangerous neurotoxic cathemeral (day and night) 113
7 Brown House Snake Lamprophis capensis 60 - 90 150 reddish brown or dark olive to black distinctive light stripe on sides harmless non venomous nocturnal 215
8 Puff Adder Bitis arientans
Philothamnus 90 140 variable: yellow, orange-brown, light brown or grey with distinct dark chevron markings fat body, triangular head, distinctive chevrons extremely dangerous cytotoxic cathemeral (day and night) 63
9 Spotted Bush Snake semivariegatus 60 - 90 130 upper: bright green with black crossbars, underside: greenish white to yellowish blue-green head harmless non venomous diurnal 244
10 Olive House Snake Lamprophis inornatus 45 - 75 130 olive green, olive grey or light brown small eyes, very uniform colour - no markings harmless non venomous nocturnal 217
11 Natal Snouted Grass
Short Black Snake Macrelaps microlepidotus 60 - 90 120 jet black scales are prominent mildly venomous not thought to be harmful on humans diurnal 148
12 Snake Psammophis brevirostris 60 120 upper: olive brown with pale dashed medial line, underside: white or yellow stripes down body mildly venomous not thought to be harmful on humans diurnal 155
13 Southern Twig Snake Thelotornis capensis 80 120 upper: ash grey or grey brown, head is pale blue-green, heavily speckled, underside: white / grey is well camouflaged on tree, distinctive dark stripe on side of head extremely dangerous haemotoxic diurnal 138
14 Rhombic Egg-eater Dasypeltis scabra 45 - 75 116 upper: light brown to dark brown with dark squarish blotches, underside: white distnctive pattern from dark rhombic blotches, V-marking on neck (not head) harmless non venomous nocturnal 271
15 Rhombic Night Adder Causus rhombeatus 30 - 60 100 variable: light grey, olive or pinkish brown with didtinctive rhombic markings distinct V-marking on head, short head mildly venomous cytotoxic cathemeral (day and night) 90
16 Green Water Snake Philothamnus hoplogaster 60 100 bright emerald green round pupil, occasilnaly has black bars on front harmless non venomous diurnal 249
17 Brown Egg-eater Dasypeltis inornata 60 - 75 100 yellowish red to reddish brown very small head harmless non venomous nocturnal 273
18 Herald Snake
Sundevall’s Garter Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia 45 - 70 100 olive green to grey with white speckles distinctive white speckles, head is usually darker than rest of body mildly venomous not thought to be harmful on humans nocturnal 187
19 Snake
Natal Purple-glossed Elapsoidea sundevallii (R) 75 100 slate grey/black with pale bands pointed head dangerous not much known! nocturnal 127
20 Snake Amblyodispas concolor 35 -50 85 glossy dark brown to black blunt head, very small eyes mildly venomous not much known! cathemeral (day and night) 195
21 Brown Water Snake Lycodonomorphus rufulus 45 - 60 85 upper: blackish to olive brown, underside: mother-of pearl, pink or yellowish underside colour, pupils are vertical harmless non venomous nocturnal 225
22 Southern Stiletto Snake
Spotted Harlequin Attractaspsi bibronii 30 - 40 70 purple-brown to black underside may be creamy white or dark brown to black dangerous neurotoxic - no anti-venom nocturnal 143
23 Snake Homoroselaps lacteus (R) 30 - 40 65 variable: yellow with black bars, blackwith yellow dots on each scale very brightly coloured mildly venomous not much known! cathemeral (day and night) 128
24 Black File Snake Mehelya nyassae 35 - 50 65 purple-brown to blackish mauvish pink skin between scales harmless non venomous nocturnal 268
25 Common Wolf Snake Lycophidion capense 30 - 40 64 upper: dark brown, purplish brown or black, underside: usually white very flat head , white-edged scales create a speckled effect harmless non venomous nocturnal 256
26 Spotted House Snake Lamprophis guttatus 30 - 50 62 upper: yellowish brown to pinkish grey with red-brown spots, underside: white / yellowish dark blotches formong pattern on back harmless non venomous nocturnal 219
27 Bibron’s Blind Snake Typhlops bibronii 30 - 38 48 shiny dark to olive brown difficult to see eyes - seems blind but it is not! harmless non venomous only seen after heavy rains 287
28 Southern Slug-eater Duberria lutrix 30 - 35 43 upper: brown with distinctive reddish-brown band along centre of back, underside: cream small head, distinctive stripe on back harmless non venomous cathemeral (day and night) 253
29 Centipede-eater Aparallactus capensis 20 - 30 40 upper: yellowish red or reddish brown or grey-brown, underside: white black head mildly venomous no effect on humans nocturnal 190
30 Peters' Worm Snake Leptotyphlops scutifrons 18 - 20 28 reddish brown to black cylindrical body, looks highly polished, head is indistinguisable harmless non venomous cathemeral (day and night) 291
31 Forest Thread Snake Leptotyphlops sylvicolus 5 - 12 12 black cylindrical body, looks highly polished harmless non venomous cathemeral (day and night) 296
32 Flap-neck Chameleon Chameleo dilepsis dilepsis 10 - 15 35 Colouring ranges through various shades of green, yellow and brown colour changes to adapt to background harmless non venomous diurnal n/a
33 Tree Agama Agama atricollis 20 - 30 35 greyish with black and brown speckled markings males have distinctive blue head in breeding period bite can be painful non venomous diurnal n/a
34 Variable Skink Mabuya varia 10 - 15 20 light brown with reddish brown head and neck above and dark dorsal spots fusing into longitudinal stripes dark wide longitudinal band on flank harmless non venomous diurnal n/a
35 Water Monitor Varanus niloticus 150 - 200 270 gray-brown or dark olive with darker reticulation, and 6-9 bands or bands of yellow-gold spots yellow-gold spots in bands bite and tail striks can be painful non venomous diurnal n/a
Venom Descriptions
Type How it works Most Common Early Symptoms First Aid Treatment
Neurotoxic Neurotoxic venom attacks the central nervous system Usually very visble bite mark but generally not painful Make sure you are safe from further bites
It is quickly absorbed and is fast acting Pins and needles near bite mark - spreading very rapidly Treatment will depend on type of venom so try to identify the snake
The nerves that control breathing are paralysed and this casues respiratory failure Muscle and abdominal pain Stay calm
Death can result between 5-15 hours but can occur in under 1 hour in severe cases Very little or no swelling Call for help
Difficulty in breathing Do not eat or drink anything
Variable heart beat Remove any item of clothing/jewellery that may constrict the bitten area
Increased sweating, salivation and difficulty to swallow Do not cut or squeeze the bitten area
Struggle to speak - within 20minutes Imobilise the affected limb
Do not apply suction
Cytotoxic Destroys cells by attacking tissue and blood cells Visble bite mark but may also be just a scratch Apply a pressure bandage - if you know how to do one!
Causes intense swelling Intense pain at bite mark Ensure you maintain the air passages open - use artificial respiration if necessary
Is slow acting Rapid swelling at bite mark Use a tourniquet only in extreme circumstances and only if the bite is
Nausea and vomiting from a Black Mamba or a Cape Cobra
Shock Do not use a tourniquet in any other circumstance
Get to a hospital as soon as possible
Haemotoxic This venom destroys the coagulant properties of blood resulting in contious bleeding from bite and later Visble bite mark but may also be just a scratch
internal bleeding No Immediate painand no immediate symptoms other than continous
bleeding from bite
Limited swelling mainly around bite mark
Most physical symptoms appear after a few hours - these include:
- nose bleed
- blood in urine
- headaches and nausea
- anemia and shock
Last Edit Date: May 2011
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