Snakes > Spotted Harlequin Snake

Spotted Harlequin Snake / Gevlekte Kousbandjie

Homoroselaps lacteus

Size Adults reach an average length of 30 cm (maximum 62 cm).

Description This pretty, slender little snake is yellowish cream with a bold black blotches and bars all down its body and has a red vertebral stripe in the Western Cape. Elsewhere, other patterns occur with more black and yellow vertebral stripes.

Biology This is a fossorial species, most commonly found in sandy areas in termitaria. It preys primarily on other small burrowing snakes such as Leptotyphlops and Rhinotyphlops and legless skinks. It is docile, but bites on humans have been recorded despite their small size and narrow gape. In these cases symptoms resolved within a few days and fatalities are unlikely as a result of a bite from this species. Bites are very rare and are probably only likely to affect snake handlers.

Distribution This snake is a South African endemic found from the Limpopo Province to Namaqualand only avoiding the central inland parts of the country.

Distribution in GCBC Probably occurs throughout the corridor.

Conservation Status Not listed.

Threats None identified.

Current studies None.