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Spotted (or Rhombic) Skaapsteker
I almost trod on this little beauty on my way off the beach, it lay there stock still. I didn't get too close at the time as I don't know a lot about snakes so always cautious! Turns out these long but slim snakes have a venom that is not dangerous to humans. Apparently they use speed to escape from predators so obviously it did not consider me to be a threat.
''Psammophylax rhombeatus'' or Rhombic Skaapsteker, is a small, attractively patterned, Southern African snake usually measuring between 45 and 85 centimetres in length, though occasionally reaching 140 cm.
In colour it is greyish to yellowish brown or olive-brown, with 3-4 rows of dark, rhombus-shaped spots along its back, which may merge to form a zig-zag pattern. The colour and patterning may be quite variable. Its underside is yellowish-white, with the top of the head being uniform.. more
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Being dutch I can somewhat understand parts of Afrikaans, but "Skaap", would that translate to "sheep", or does it mean something else? Sheep stabber would be a witty nickname. Posted 10 years ago