Snakes > Common Eggeater

Common Eggeater / Gewone Eiervreter

Dasypeltis scabra

Size Adults reach an average length of 50 cm (max. 1m)

Description This slender snake is normally well marked with a clear set of square, dark brown blotches down its back with paler background patches between the dark blotches. There is another row of irregular dark brown blotches down each side. The background colour varies from a greyish brown to beige. The scales are noticeably keeled. The head is small and indistinct from the neck.

Biology This snake is well known for its peculiar and specialized diet of bird eggs and its amazing ability to swallow eggs much larger than its own head width. This is accomplished by stretching the highly elastic hyoid cartilage that allows the jaws to open very wide. Specialized projections of the vertebrae break the eggshell and the liquid contents are squeezed into the snake's stomach. The empty eggshell is then regurgitated. Eggs containing developed birds are normally rejected. This slow-moving, nocturnal snake is an accomplished climber of bushes and trees in which it finds its egg prey. It may be seen crossing roads after rain. It is entirely harmless and does not even have the sharp teeth that most colubrids have as these would impede the ingestion of large eggs. However, this snake can perform an impressive show of bluster when threatened and prevented from escaping: rasping its rough scales together to form a ‘hissing' noise and striking with its black (but almost toothless) mouth open. Strikes are normally pulled back before any contact is made. If contact is accidentally made, one can feel the soft mouth.

Distribution This snake is very widely distributed throughout southern and eastern Africa. It avoids true desert and rain forest habitats.

Distribution in GCBC Probably occurs throughout the Corridor.

Conservation Status Not listed. The common eggeater is protected under the Western Cape Nature Conservation Act as a protected species (Appendix II).

Threats Habitat destruction and road deaths.

Current studies None.