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Crotaphopeltis barotseensis (Barotse water snake)
Barotsewaterslang [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:
Colubrinae > Genus:
Crotaphopeltis
Identification
The Barotse Water snake can be identified by its glossy
grey-brown scales and a head which is indistinct from the rest of the body. This
snake grows to an average length of 50 cm but can reach 70 cm in length.
Distribution and habitat
Only found in North Western Botswana.
Its favoured habitat is Papyrus swamp in the Okavango swamp.
Food
Feeds on
frogs.
Predators, parasites and disease
Unknown but possibly other snakes.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg laying), lays between 6 and 8 eggs in
summer.
Longevity
Uncertain likely to be an average of 10 years.
Medical importance
The venom of this snake has not been well studied but is
likely to have little or no effect on 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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