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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Genus: Lycodonomorphus (water snakes)

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

Seventeen species of which four are native to southern Africa.

Species native to southern Africa

Lycodonomorphus laevissimus (Dusky-bellied or Black water snake)

A bad tempered snake that is known to release a foul smelling liquid in self defence.

Lycodonomorphus leleupi (Mulanje water snake)

Similar to Brown water snake but is diurnal

 

Lycodonomorphus obscuriventris (Floodplain water snake)

Easily identified by the light coloured stripe on its upper lip.

 

Lycodonomorphus rufulus (Common brown water snake)

Commonly identified by its mother of pearl coloured underside.

Lycodonomorphus rufulus (Common brown water snake)