Herald snake or Red-lipped snake

Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia

Herald or Red-lipped snakes can be identified by its olive green or grey body, multiple white speckles, its distinctive black head and red, yellow, white or black upper lip. It grows to an average length of 70 cm but may reach up to 1 meter in length. Although classed as 'Tropical Water Snakes' they are terrestrial and associated with wetlands where their prey is concentrated. Herald snakes bite readily but their mild venom is of no consequence to humans.
Herald or Red-lipped snake Not the best photo, I was out looking for spiders last night and spotted this little snake (40cm apx) in the undergrowth. managed a couple of shots before the batteries went in my flash, I was hoping it would come out of the leaves. The existence of the Herald snake was first announced in the Eastern Cape Herrald, hence the common name of this snake. They are only mildly venomous and of no consequence to humans. Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia,Herald snake or Red-lipped snake,herald snake,nocturnal,red-lipped snake,snakes,south africa

Appearance

Small to medium sized snakes with distinct flat heads, large eyes and vertical pupils. Adult length is between 450 to 750mm. The dorsal scales are smooth and highly polished. Olive green to grey above with white speckles that form indistinct transverse bars, especially in juveniles. They have relatively large immovable fangs near the back of the maxillary bone, just below the eyes.

Naming

Laurenti 1768

Distribution

The Herald snake is widespread and is present throughout South Africa (except for the Karoo and Northern Cape), It is also present throughout Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Southern and Central Mozambique and Northern Botswana. It favoured habitats are marshy areas in lowland forest, moist savanna, grasslands and fynbos.

Behavior

Nocturnal and actively hunt for frogs and toads. Once the snake has bitten its prey, it hangs on while the venom takes effect.

Habitat

Terrestrial, inhabiting wetlands

Reproduction

Clutches of between 6 and 19 eggs are laid in summer. The hatchlings are between 130mm and 180mm in length.

Food

Amphibians; frogs and toads.

Predators

Other snakes

Defense

When threatened the Herald snake raises its head and flattens it horizontally, displaying the upper lips while hissing and striking, often with the mouth agape.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/reptiles/squamata/serpentes/colubridae/crotaphopeltis_hotamboeia.htm

A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa, Graham Alexander and Johan Marais. Struik Nature 2007
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyColubridae
GenusCrotaphopeltis
SpeciesCrotaphopeltis hotamboeia
Photographed in
South Africa