Spotted Bush Snake
Scientific name: Philothamnus semivariegatus
Common names: Spotted Bush Snake; Variegated Bush Snake; Gespikkelde bosslang (Afr)
They are completely harmless to humans. The adults average 60cm to 90cm in length and seldom exceed 1,3m. Their colour is variable but it us usually bright green to olive green above with black crossbars or or spots on the anterior two-thirds of the body. The head is usually green or blue-green in colour. The underside is usually greenish-white to yellowish, with distinctly keeled ventral scales. Distribution They are found throughout the wetter eastern parts of South Africa, including the Transkei, KZN, the old Transvaal, Zimbabwe, the Eastern and northern parts of Botswana and just inland from the western coast of Namibia. |  |
Habitat
They prefer river banks, shrubs and bushes or rocky regions in karoo scrub, moist savanna and lowland forest.
Habits
They are a beautifully marked diurnal snake that moves gracefully, or in short bursts if disturbed, They are excellent climbers and, with the ventral scales, can easily climb up the rough bark of a tree or even up brick walls. They often enter houses and outbuildings, especially those that have shrubs planted next to windows.
When disturbed they often inflate their necks to expose the vivid blue skin under the scales.
Like the Boomslang, they will raise their head off the ground and undulate the neck.
The Spotted Bush Snake is very common throughout their region.
They will often inhabit the space between walls and corrugated iron roofs where they feed on geckos.
They move off when disturbed and will bite if handled.
It sleeps loosely coiled at night on the outer branches of vegetation.
They are well camouflaged and are difficult to see in their natural environment.
Food
They feed on lizards, mainly geckos, chameleons and frogs but not toads.
Reproduction
They are oviparous, laying 3 to 13 eggs in midsummer. The young measure 23cm to 30cm when newly hatched.
