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Psammophis mossambicus (Olive whip snake, Olive grass
snake)
Olyfsweepslang [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 > Genus:
Psammophis
Identification
The Olive whip snake can be identified by its large size,
speckled upper lip, stripes down its length, its highly aggressive nature and a
strictly diurnal lifestyle. It grows to an average length of 1 meter and a
maximum length of 1.8 meters.
Distribution and habitat
Found in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Swaziland,
Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. Its favoured habitats are moist
savanna and lowland forest where it is often found in marshes.
Food
Eats other snakes (including black mambas and puff adders)
but also eats
rodents,
lizards and
frogs.
Predators, parasites and disease
Eaten by small carnivorous
mammals (e.g.
meerkats and
mongooses),
birds of prey (particularly
secretary birds and
snake eagles)
and other snakes.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying), lays between 10 and 30 eggs in
summer.
Longevity
Likely to have an average lifespan of
10 years.
Medical importance
Although venomous is not dangerous to man but cause pain,
swelling and nausea.
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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