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Philothamnus semivariegatus
(Spotted bush snake, Variegated bush snake)
Gespikkelde bosslang [Afrikaans]; Inambezulu [Xhosa];
inDlondlo [Ndebele]
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
Identification
The Spotted bush snake can be identified by its black
speckling, its gold or orange irises, a blue tongue with a black tip, an expert
climbing ability and a diurnal lifestyle. It grows to an average length of 90 cm
and a maximum length of 1.3 meters.
Distribution and habitat
Widespread, with the distribution in southern Africa
including eastern Namibia, the Caprivi strip, a large portion of Botswana, all
of Zimbabwe, central and southern Mozambique, Swaziland and north east South
Africa and KwaZulu-Natal. It favours a variety of habitats from rivers banks
to lowland forest and even residential gardens (in KwaZulu-Natal particularly).
Food
Eats lizards (particularly geckos and chameleons) and
frogs.
Predators, parasites and disease
Eaten by other snakes (particularly vine snakes),
birds of
prey (particularly
secretary birds and
snake eagles).
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying), lays between 3 and 12 eggs in
midsummer.
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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