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Amblyodipsas polylepis (Common purple-glossed snake)
Gewone persglansslang; Gewone purpergrondslang
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 > Genus:
Amblyodipsas
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Amblyodipsas polylepis (Common purple-glossed snake),
KwaZulu-Natal. [photo J. Harvey ©, from
SARCA
Virtual Museum] |
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Amblyodipsas polylepis (Common purple-glossed snake),
KwaZulu-Natal. [photo G.J. Opperman ©, from
SARCA
Virtual Museum] |
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Amblyodipsas polylepis (Common purple-glossed snake),
Limpopo. [photo D Honiball and L Honiball ©, from
SARCA
Virtual Museum] |
Amblyodipsas polylepis (Common purple-glossed snake),
KwaZulu-Natal. [photo P. Vos ©, from
SARCA
Virtual Museum] |
Identification
The Common purple-glossed snake can be identified by its
thick body, a blunt head, a purple colouration, small eyes and habit of burrowing
beneath the surface. It grows to an average length of 75 cm but can reach a
maximum length of 1.1 meters.
Distribution and habitat
Found in the following areas; KwaZulu-Natal,
Limpopo, Swaziland, southern and central Mozambique, Zimbabwe and northern
Botswana. It is found in a variety of habitats including moist savanna and
lowland forest.
Food
Eats other reptiles (particularly blind snakes,
amphisbaenids and legless skinks).
Predators, parasites and disease
Eaten by other snakes.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying), lays an uncertain number of eggs.
Longevity
Has an average life span of 20 years.
Medical importance
Although venomous, it is not thought to be dangerous to 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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