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Philothamnus natalensis (Natal green snake, Eastern green snake)
Natalse groenslang [Afrikaans]; Ivusamanzi eliluhlaza [Zulu]
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:
Colubrinae > Genus:
Philothamnus
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Philothamnus natalensis (Natal green snake, Eastern green snake) in
tree next to water, KwaZulu-Natal. [A. Marais ©, from
SARCA Virtual Museum] |
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Philothamnus natalensis eating frog (inset shows close-up of head
with frog). [photo photo
Arno
Meintjes ©] |
Pair of
Philothamnus natalensis copulating on stairs, KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa. [A. Manson ©, from
SARCA Virtual Museum] |
Identification
The Natal green snake can be identified by its round
pupils, a white or yellow underside, a particularly good swimming and tree
climbing ability and an arboreal diurnal lifestyle. It grows to an average
length of 90 cm but may reach up to 1.3 meters.
Distribution and habitat
Found on the South Africa /
Mozambique border and southern Mozambique. It is encountered in a variety of
habitats ranging from lowland forest to grassland.
Food
Eats
frogs and
geckos.
Predators, parasites and disease
Eaten by other snakes (particularly vine snakes),
birds of
prey (particularly
secretary birds and
snake eagles).
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying), usually lays between 4 and 6
eggs but may lay up to 14 eggs.
Longevity
Likely to have an average lifespan of
10 years.
Medical importance
Non-venomous and not dangerous to man.
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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