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Lamprophis capensis (Brown house snake, Common house
snake)
Bruinhuisslang, Gewone huisslang [Afrikaans]; Umzingandlu
[Zulu]; Inkwakhwa [Xhosa]
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 Brown house snake can be identified its uniform
brown colour, 2 light coloured stripes which extend down the length of the head and
its preference for areas habitats close to human dwellings.
Distribution and habitat
This hose snake species is found throughout southern
Africa. Its is found in all habitats and is particularly common in residential
areas.
Food
Feeds mostly on
rodents
(e.g.
rats and mice),
birds,
bats,
lizards (particularly skinks) and
frogs (very
rarely).
Predators, parasites and disease
Eaten by other snakes (File snakes and cobras
in particular), monitor lizards,
spiders (particularly
button spiders),
birds of
prey (particularly
owls and
snake eagles) and carnivorous
mammals
(particularly
mongooses).
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying), lays between 8 and 18 eggs in
summer and has been known to lay more than one batch per season.
Longevity
Has been known to live for 20 years in
captivity.
Medical importance
Non-venomous and not dangerous to man but will bite if
threatened.
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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