Vine Snake
Thelotornis capensis capensis
Reptile
| At a Glance | |
| Length | 1m 1,6m max. |
| Mass | |
| Conservation Status | Not threathened |
Description
A slender snake with a long, pointed head which is greenish and has a distinct white and dark strip running from the tip of the head and tapering off at the end of the head region. It has a keyhole shaped pupil. The length of the body is blotchy. The tongue is red and black.
Behaviour
A graceful, swift moving snake, which although is timid and retiring, will inflate its head when disturbed or threatened, displaying bright orange skin between the scales. It is largely arboreal; found in bushes and trees, where it can camouflage.
Diet
Actively hunts during the day by approaching prey in short spurts before lunging forward and seizing the prey firmly in its jaws whilst injecting venom. Feeds on lizards (including chameleons), frogs and occasionally birds and other snakes.
Breeding
Oviparous (egg laying), 4 - 18 eggs in summer. young measure 22 - 30cm on hatching.
Distribution
Mpumalanga, North West province, Swaziland, southern Zimbabwe, eastern Botswana.
Habitat
Trees, shrubs, bushes in moist savannah and lowland forest.
Threats
loss of habitat
Fed on by birds of prey (particularly secretary birds and snake eagles) and other snakes.
Local Information
Has been seen, particularly along boundary fences of Krantzkloof.
Interesting Facts
No antivenom is available for this snake. The venom is hemotoxic, causing disturbance to blood-clotting and like the Boomslang, it is a back-fanged species. Luckily it is seldom encountered and deaths are exceptionally rare.