Snakes > Herald Snake

Herald Snake, Red-lipped Snake / Rooilipslang

Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia

Size These snakes have an average length of 45 cm (max. 1 m).

Description Some specimens of this snake have unmistakable red or orange lips, but often this feature is absent and the lips are cream or white. However, this snake always has black temples and fine white speckles on the brown to grey body. When alarmed, herald snakes will coil into striking position and flatten the head which makes the black temple regions obvious and resulting in the head looking much bigger.

Biology This snake prefers to eat frogs, but will take lizards and in adulthood, small rodents. It is normally associated with damp habitats and is sometimes found in urban gardens where there is sufficient moisture to sustain its amphibian prey. It is a back-fanged snake with a mild venom that does not result in significant medical symptoms for humans – they are effectively harmless to humans. They bite readily when first captured, but soon settle.

Distribution It occurs widely throughout the damper parts of the Western Cape and northwards up the eastern coast and inland to Gauteng.

Distribution in GCBC Probably occurs on the damper slopes of the mountains in the Corridor.

Conservation Status Not listed.

Threats Habitat destruction in the moister parts of the country due agricultural and urban expansion.

Current studies None.