Genus: Amblyodipsas (purple-glossed snakes)

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: Atractaspididae

Nine species, of which four are native to southern Africa.

Species native to southern Africa

Amblyodipsas concolour (Natal purple-glossed snake) Often confused with the Natal black snake.
Amblyodipsas polylepis (Common purple-glossed snake) Known for concealing its head under a coil when threatened.
Amblyodipsas microphthalma (Eastern purple-glossed or White-lipped snake) Known to burrow particularly deep underground.
Amblyodipsas ventrimaculata (Kalahari purple-glossed snake) Can be differentiated from the other species by its yellow colouration and strictly nocturnal lifestlye.