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Lamprophis aurora (Aurora house snake)
Auroraslang [Afrikaans]; Tlatametsi [South Sotho]
Life >
Eukaryotes
>
Opisthokonta >
Metazoa
(animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia >
Chordata >
Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates) > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) >
Teleostomi (teleost fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class:
Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia (terrestrial vertebrates) >
Tetrapoda
(four-legged vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota >
Reptilia (reptiles) >
Romeriida > Diapsida > Lepidosauromorpha > Lepidosauria >
Squamata > Serpentes
(snakes) > Family: Colubridae > Subfamily:
Boodontinae > Genus:
Lamprophis
Identification
The Aurora house snake can be identified by uniformly olive
colour, an orange stripe down its back and its strictly nocturnal and terrestrial
(ground dwelling) lifestyle. It grows to an average length of 60 cm but can
reach 90 cm.
Distribution and habitat
Found on the Cape Peninsula,
the Eastern Cape and in the Free State and Gauteng. Its preferred habitat is
damp grassland.
Food
This snake eats
rodents
(e.g.
rats and mice), lizards and
frogs.
Predators, parasites and disease
This snake species is eaten by other snakes and
birds of
prey (particularly
secretary birds and
snake eagles).
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying), lays between 8 and 12 eggs in
summer.
Longevity
Has been known to live for 20 years in
captivity.
Medical importance
Non-venomous and not dangerous to man and not likely to
bite.
Links
References
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Broadley, D.G. 1983. FitzSimons' Snakes of Southern
Africa. Delta Books, Johannesburg.
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Marais, J. 2004. A Complete Guide to Snakes of
Southern Africa. Struik Publishing, Cape Town.
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