Reptiles

Reptiles of the Mpushini and Mkhondeni River catchments

A large number of reptile species lives in the Mpushini and Mkhondeni River catchment area. These range from the large snake species such as the South African Python down to the small thread snakes. Most of the snakes are harmless, although some, like the Black Mamba and Spitting Cobra are extremely dangerous. The reptiles also include a large number of lizard species which range in size from the Rock Monitors down to the tiny geckos and skinks.

Most humans are extremely scared of snakes and will kill them on sight. However, most of the snake species that are encountered in the area are completely harmless to humans. They perform an essential role in the environment in that they control the populations of rodents such as rats and mice which do so much damage in our homes, outbuildings and crops.

The following list contains all of the reptile species that have been identified in the Mpushini and Mkhondeni River catchment area.

Snakes:

Common Brown Water Snake	Lycodonomorphus rufulus	Prefers rivers, streams, vleis and damp areas in grasslands, savanna. Constrictor that feeds on frogs, tadpoles, small fish and nestlings and rodents.
Brown House Snake	Lamprophis capensis	Found almost everywhere. Common around human dwellings. Feeds mainly on rodents and small vertebrates including lizards, bats, birds and frogs.
Cape Wolf Snake	Lycophidion capense	Lives in savanna and grassland. It is active at night when it hunts for lizards, especially skinks and geckos. It is fond of damp localities and is often found under stones, logs or piles of grass.
Common or Brown Slug Eater	Duberria lutrix	Mainly a grassland inhabitant and is also found in savanna. It preys on snails and slugs.
Mole Snake	Psuedopsis cana	Common in scrub-covered and grassland areas. Adults feed on rats, moles, gerbils and other small land mammals. It also feeds on birds, nestlings and eggs.
Olive Grass Snake or Olive Whip Snake	Psammophis mosambicus	An inhabitant of lowland forest and moist savanna. Often found in the vicinity of water. Feeds on lizards, small mammals, frogs, birds and snakes (including Black Mamba and Puff Adder).
Cape Centipede Eater or Black-headed Centipede Eater	Aparallactus capensis	Found in old termite mounds in lowland forest, savanna and grasslands. Feeds exclusively on Centipedes.
Natal Black Snake	Macrelaps microlepidotis	Found along streams beneath rotting logs, stones, leaf litter, animal burrows and in storm water drains.
Common Egg Eater	Dasypeltis scabra	Found in all habitats except true desert and closed-canopy forest. Feeds exclusively on birds eggs.
Southern Brown Egg Eater	Dasypeltis inornata	Found in lowland forest and moist savanna. Seeks refuge under rocks, or any other suitable hiding place. Active at night when it seeks birds nests and eggs.
Spotted Bush Snake or Variegated Bush Snake	Philothamus semivariegatus	Preferred habitats are river banks, shrubs, bushes, rocky regions, savanna and lowland forest. Feeds on lizards, especially geckos. Occasionally takes frogs but not toads.
Natal Green Snake	Philothamus natalensis	Habitat is savanna and grassland. Feeds on lizards and geckos.
Green Water Snake	Philothamus hoplogaster	Common in lowland forest and moist savanna. Prefers reed beds, riverine thickets. Feeds mainly on frogs but fish and small lizards are also taken.
Red-Lipped Herald	Crotaphopeltis hotamboei	Common in lowland forest and savanna. Shelters under rocks, rubble and in compost. Feeds on amphibians and lizards. It also eats small snakes.
Boomslang	Dispholidus typus	Found in a variety of habitats. Actively hunts chameleons, tree-living lizards, birds, nestlings, eggs and frogs.
Mozambique Spitting Cobra	Naja mossambica	Found mainly in moist savanna and lowland forest in hollow logs, termite mounds and animal holes. Preys on toads, small mammals, birds, lizards, insects and snakes. Also eats eggs.
Black Mamba	Dendroaspis polylepis	Found in termite mounds, hollow tree trunks, deserted aardvark or porcupine burrows, rock crevices and granite hillocks. Actively hunts rodents, dassies, and other suitably sized mammals, birds and other snakes. Prefer warm-blooded prey.
Rhombic Night Adder	Causus rhombeatus	Favours damp environments in moist savanna where it seeks refuge in old termite mounds, under logs and large flat stones. Feeds almost exclusively on toads and frogs. Hatchlings feed on tadpoles.
Puff Adder	Bitis arietans	Occurs throughout South Africa in all habitats. Ambushes rats and mice and other small mammals. Also feeds on birds, lizards, toads and occasionally, snakes.
Southern African Python (aka, African Rock Python)	Python natalensis	Fairly widespread, preferring rocky outcrops in moist savanna. Diet includes, dassies, cane rats, hares, monkeys, small antelope and game birds. It may also take fish, monitor lizards and crocodiles.

Lizards:

Cape Skink	Mabuya capensis
Variable Skink	Mabuya varia
Striped Skink	Mabuya striata complex
Wahlberg's Snake-Eyed Skink	Panaspis wahlbergii
Rock Monitor	Varanus albigularis
Flap-Necked Chameleon	Chamaeleo dilepis
Tropical House Gecko	Hemidactylus mabouia
Spotted Thick-Toed Gecko	Pachydactylus maculates
Southern Tree Agama	Acanthocercus atricollis
Natal Midlands Dwarf Chameleon	Bradypodion thamnobates

Marsh Terrapin	Pelomedusa subrufa
Natal Hinged Tortoise	Kinixys Natalensis