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Rhamphiophis rostratus (Rufous beaked snake)
Haakneusslang [Afrikaans]
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:
Psammophinae
Identification
The Rufous beaked snake can be identified by its hooked
snout, large eyes, a dark stripe on either side of the head and its peculiar
habit of jerking its head from side to side.
Distribution and habitat
Found in Limpopo, Mpumalanga,
southern Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Its favoured habitat is moist
savanna. It grows to an average length of 1.2 meters and a maximum length of 1.6
meters.
Food
Eats
rodents
(e.g.
rats and mice), lizards, small snakes,
frogs,
birds and
insects.
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 7 and 18 eggs
in summer.
Longevity
Likely to have an average lifespan of
10 years.
Medical importance
Although venomous is 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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