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Natriciteres olivacea (Olive marsh snake)
Olfkleurige vleislang [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
Natricinae > Genus:
Natriciteres
Identification
The Olive marsh snake is identified by its golden brown
eyes and black edged lip scales. It grows to an average length of 35 cm but may
reach 54 cm in length.
Distribution and habitat
Found in the Caprivi Strip, Zimbabwe and
central Mozambique (a small population is found in south east Mozambique. Its
favoured habitat is moist savanna.
Food
Eats small fish,
frogs,
tadpoles and flying
termites.
Predators, parasites and disease
Eaten by
birds of
prey (particularly
hamerkops)
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying), lays between 3 and 11 (normally 6)
eggs in summer.
Longevity
Likely to have an average lifespan of
10 years.
Medical importance
Non-venomous and not dangerous to man and not likely to
bite.
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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