South africa is a country with some of the most dangerous serpents in the world. Apr 29, 2018 this was my first ever encounter with the infamous rinkhals, the only spitting snake in my area. This was my first ever encounter with the infamous rinkhals, the only spitting snake in my area. Our most venomous snakes include the aggressive black mamba, the puff adder, mozambique spitting cobra, cape cobra, boomslang, vine snake and gaboon viper. See more ideas about snake, reptiles and amphibians. It is a slender dark brown to black snake with a slender hood. Campus services employees should maintain the employee signin sheet in their departments safetyenvironmental compliance binder as a record of training. The common spitting snakes in south africa are the mozambique spitting cobra mfezi and the rinkhals. Introduction and viperidae find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. If youre not within 3 m of a snake it cannot bite you and youre in the safe zone. It is the largest venomous snake in south africa and can reach four metres long, said naude. Pdf snakes of africa exploitation and conservation. Pdf a complete guide to the snakes of southern africa. Northern transvaal and most of the limpopo proince.
In southern africa it may be found in most areas, but it avoids the extreme desert conditions, dense forests. The common harmless snakes of south africa tyrone ping. He rapidly established himself as an authority on local snakes with the publication of several books, including the snakes of south africa. Following on the success of the common snakes of durban post that was compiled here is a much broader spectrum to cover south africa.
South africa officially the republic of south africa or abbreviated to rsa has always been one of the most beautiful places on the planet. The species just referred to is the common south african. Easily distinguishable by the two white lines running down the side of the head. There are three types of venomous snakes in southern africa they fit into the cytotoxic, neurotoxic and haemotoxic category. Some 11% of the approximately 173 species of snake in southern africa can be considered deadly and these include mambas, cobras, the rinkhals, puff adder, gaboon adder, boomslang and the twig snake.
Mamba denizraspis angusttceps, which ranges over central and east africa, having been taken at. This insert below will touch on these medically insignificant snakes, which include harmless nonvenomous as well as the common mildly venomous snakes which the average south african may come across on a daytoday basis. In south africa, there are more than species of snakes found, with only a dozen of these reptiles considered potentially deadly. Corn snakes for sale by gene morphmarket south africa. Broadley 1983 subsequently revised the snakes incorporating additional museum records which had been collected subsequent to the first edition, none being recorded from the. All over the world, especially in north africa, central and south america, and the mountains of the american northwest, organic solutions have proven effective for deterring snakes of all species. Coloration can vary greatly, from brown to copperred to almost entirely black. This is a country where almost no end to the attractions you can see each person, as the variety of landscapes and activities here are limitless. The field guide to snakes and other reptiles of southern africa was published a decade ago as a comprehensive guide to the regions 397 reptile species. The dangerous snakes of africa is an indispensable guide to these reptiles.
Forrested areas of west and central africa, southern east africa and eastern coast of south africa. Jul 15, 2005 this detailed and comprehensive guide to the 151 snakes indigenous to southern africa covers all essential aspects of snake biology and behavior. Branch and others published the venomous snakes of southern africa part 2. These snakes can be found in almost every environment from suburban gardens, forests, grasslands and including the drier arid regions of the karoo. Would you like to use this article in your publication or on your website. It is found throughout most of north africa above the sahara, and in parts of west and east africa. Typically only between 1012 deaths per year in south africa from snakebite. This snake can be found from south of durban in the natal, northwards. Now in its second edition, a complete guide to the snakes of southern africa has been updated, revised and expanded to include at least 11 newly discovered and 30 reclassified species and subspecies.
South africa dangerous snakes hills of africa travel. I flew to the other side of south africa to be able to handle this amazing snake. A complete guide to the snakes of southern africa by. The species is diurnal and is a feeding generalist, preying on a number of different species and carrion. It is south africa s biggest cobra, growing to between 2 and 3 meters. Pages in category snakes of africa the following 140 pages are in this category, out of 140 total. The korck publishing wall poster snakes of southern africa dangerous snakes and common harmless snakes southern africa has an impressive selection of venomous snakes and a large number of species which while either nonvenomous or only mildly venomous are easily confused with the more seriously venomous species. The whole of swaziland, most of mozambique, zambia and zimbabwe and northern botswana and northern namibia. Mar 29, 2018 if you are attempting to rid your garden of snakes, chemical solutions are only useful for a few species of snakes. This detailed and comprehensive guide to the 151 snakes indigenous to southern africa covers all essential aspects of snake biology and behavior. Survey of reptiles in the wilderness section of the garden. The most venomous snakes in central and south america are either coral snakes or members of the pit vipers family. Venomous snakes in southern africa can, in broad terms, be divided into 3 groups.
Jan 25, 2018 common harmless snakes of south africa posted on january 25, 2018 march 29, 2020 by tyrone following on the success of the common snakes of durban post that was compiled here is a much broader spectrum to cover south africa. Seventy two are not venomous, while twenty nine can inflict. It is native to much of southern africa, and is the only member of the genus pseudaspis. Snake spotting in south africa south africa forum tripadvisor. Snakes and snakebite in southern africa has sold over 35,000 copies and is still in print. Travel to southern africa a lot and do see snakes and reptiles, so this guide book is relevant for me. File snakes angola file snake mehhelya vernayi black file snake mehhelya nyassae cape file snake mehelya capensis grass snakes. Atlas and red list of the reptiles of south africa, lesotho and. Best plants that naturally repel snakes updated for 2020. Arguably one of the most common and widespread snakes in south africa. Apr 09, 2017 there are three types of venomous snakes in southern africa they fit into the cytotoxic, neurotoxic and haemotoxic category. Snakes for africa 1 tugela road, 3652 waterfall, kwazulunatal, south africa rated 4. If you are attempting to rid your garden of snakes, chemical solutions are only useful for a few species of snakes. The puff adder is probably the most widespread snake in africa, avoiding the severe parts of the sahara desert, tropical rain forests and high altitudes.
May 24, 2012 an online collection of political, physical, historical and thematic maps of south africa in pdf and image format, mostly produced by the uss central intelligence agency. Of the east africa natural history society and national museum 12th may 1975 a guide to the snakes of the tanzania and kenya borderlands by desmond foster veseyfitzgerald scientific officer, tanzania national parks no. Broadley 1983 subsequently revised the snakes incorporating additional museum records which had been collected. In a lifetime of living in south africa, and visiting all the game reserves of south africa, most in namibia and botswana, on numerous occasions, i can recall seeing snakes in the wild about 4 or 5 times only. About snakes i do not believe it is very easy to spot snakes. Use toolbox trainings to encourage safety environmental discussions during monthly meetings with employees. Other venomous snakes include the forest cobra naja melanoleuca which is found in north east kwazulunatal.
A complete guide to the snakes of southern africa by marais. Remains of the mole snake were found in the faeces, and suggest the consumed individuals were larger specimens. Grass snakes olive grass snake psammophis phillipsii. A complete guide to the snakes of southern africa pdf. The egyptian cobra naja haje is one of africas largest cobra species, reaching lengths of around 6. This species is responsible for more fatalities than any other african snake. Southern africa has one hundred and seventy three different types of snakes. More than half of the snakes in south africa are totally harmless.
An obituary for the author appeared in the bast africa. Including people such as avid hikers, hunters, fisherman and cyclists. Click trait name for all matches or numbers for narrower searches e. The combination of the tropical climate and abundant prey species provides a perfect backdrop for. The mozambique spitting cobra accounts for the vast majority of serious bites, followed by the puff adder, and then the stiletto snake and rhombic night adder. He said puff adders should be avoided at all cost because they accounted for the secondhighest number of bites in south africa and were very venomous. The above snakes are the more commonly encountered snakes. Before exploring some of southern africas most deadliest snakes, its first important to point out that snakes will not simply attack out of nowhere. Among venomous snakes found in north america, all but the coral snake have slit like eyes and are known as pit vipers because their heads are. Counselling in a diverse, south african, multicultural. Snakes of south africa identification in terms of identifying a type of serpent, there are some things which are usually put into consideration and part of which is the structure of the body. South americas most venomous snakes venomous, poisonous. Although mammals such as the lion and giraffe, and reptiles such as the fearsome nile crocodile and gaboon viper, make most of the headlines, the amphibians of africa are more than noteworthy in their own right. On snakes in east africa biodiversity heritage library.
Although more than half of them are technically venomous, only species are considered. This snake is often found near water, or in marsh areas. It is south africas biggest cobra, growing to between 2 and 3 meters. All over the world, especially in north africa, central and south america, and the mountains of the american northwest, organic solutions have proven effective for. Southern africa has in the region of 170 different types of snakes. Came in a cardboard envelope, so guide book was well protected. In south africa, the species is known to occur in the transvaal, along the drakensberg escarpment of the eastern and northern transvaal. His first book snake versus man was written in 1984 followed by a complete guide to snakes of southern africa and snakes of the world of which more than 100,000 copies were sold. It lives in moist savannah and lowland forest biomes. Although the chances of you encountering a snake in the wild are relatively uncommon. Johan is accredited by the international society of zoological sciences iszs and is a field guides association of southern africa fgasa.
Of the 170 species of snakes in southern africa only 20 are capably of inflicting a deadly bite. The continent of africa is home to some of the worlds most amazing animals. The cape cobra naja nivea, also called the yellow cobra, is a moderatesized, highly venomous species of cobra inhabiting a wide variety of biomes across southern africa including arid savanna, fynbos, bushveld, desert and semidesert regions. Small children and the elderly, so far, have been found to be more susceptible to bites from serpents, and while some lives have been lost in the process, it is worth noting that a snake bite does not necessarily have to kill. Common highly dangerous snakes of south africa camping tips. Illustrations of the zoology of south africa, consisting chiefly of figures and descriptions of the objects of natural history collected during an expedition in. He is a popular public speaker and offers a variety of courses including snake awareness, scorpion awareness and venomous snake handling. The mole snake pseudaspis cana is a species of snake in the family lamprophiidae. The fangs are permanently erect and each fang has a hollow passage along the length of the whole tooth for the venom.
Aug 01, 2018 the continent of africa is home to some of the worlds most amazing animals. Johan marais is the author of various books on reptiles including the best seller a complete guide to snakes of southern africa. Corn snakes for sale in south africa browse 21 corn snakes in 8 ads by 9 traits and subcategories. In a multicultural society like south africa, classified along racial and ethnic lines, one finds four main racial groups whites, blacks, coloureds and indians with 11 official languages postapartheid to accommodate this diversity. The amazon basin of south america holds some of the largest snakes on the planet. In addition to biting, both snakes spray their venom up to a distance of three metres and do so in selfdefense to temporarily blind their attacker and allow the snake to escape. Since then herpetological studies in southern africa have undergone a renaissance and in the last 10 years more than 83 new reptile species have been discovered at a phenomenal rate of a new. Africa is a true hotspot for snake diversity, with several hundred species. An online collection of political, physical, historical and thematic maps of south africa in pdf and image format, mostly produced by the uss central intelligence agency. In a lifetime of living in south africa, and visiting all the game reserves of south africa, most in namibia and botswana, on numerous occasions, i can recall seeing snakes in the wild about 4 or 5 times only i have only ever seen one black mamba, as it slithered across the road. There are currently approximately 170 species and subspecies of snakes found in south africa.
Unfortunately, a scared snake or one that is trodden on may bite, and some species have venom that can prove fatal. The inside of the mouth is black and the venom is extremely potent. Pdf on jan 1, 1978, william r branch and others published the venomous snakes of southern africa. Elsewhere in south africa, it occurs in western natal, lesotho and eastern free state, and in the southern coastal mountains of western and eastern cape province.
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