|
Dasypeltis inornata (Southern brown egg-eater)
Suidelike bruin eiervreter [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:
Dasypeltis
 |
|
Dasypeltis inornata (Southern brown egg-eater),
Mpumalanga, South Africa. [J. Theron ©, from
SARCA Virtual Museum] |
 |
|
Dasypeltis inornata (Southern brown egg-eater),
Eastern Cape, South Africa. [D. Stuart-Fox and A. Moussalli ©, from
SARCA Virtual Museum] |
Identification
Can be identified by its uniform yellowish red or brown
colour, a small head, a vertical pupil and its strictly nocturnal lifestyle. This
snake grows to an average length of 75 cm but may reach up to one meter in length.
Distribution and habitat
Native to the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, a small part of Northern Limpopo,
and Swaziland. Favours wooded habitats including lowland forest and moist savanna.
Food
Feeds exclusively on
bird eggs which are crushed by bony
vertebral projections in the neck area.
Predators, parasites and disease
Fed on by other snakes and
birds of
prey (particularly
secretary birds and
snake eagles).
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg laying), lays between 7 and 17 eggs in
summer.
Longevity
Unknown.
Medical importance
Non-venomous and not dangerous to people.
Links
References
-
Broadley, D.G. 1983. FitzSimons' Snakes of Southern
Africa. Delta Books, Johannesburg.
-
Marais, J. 2004. A Complete Guide to Snakes of Southern Africa.
Struik Publishing, Cape Town.
|
