Snakes > Spotted House Snake

Spotted House Snake / Gevlekte Huisslang

Lamprophis guttatus

Size These snakes reach an average size of 45 cm (max. 60 cm).

Description The anterior third of the body of this snake is always spotted, but the amount, size and density of spotting increases as one moves away from the arid western Cape to the wetter areas of the country. The spots are dark brown on a brown to brownish grey background colour.

Biology This snake is very seldom seen and is very unobtrusive. This is largely due to its preference for very rocky, mountainous habitat and its nocturnal activities. It can flatten its head and body dramatically which assists in getting into thin cracks and crevices in rocks in which it finds its prey and in which it shelters.

Distribution It occurs in most of the mountainous regions of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces.

Distribution in GCBC It probably occurs in all the mountainous areas from Elands Bay to the Cederberg and Groot-Winterhoek mountains.

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

Threats None identified.

Current studies None.