| 1 | Rhombic night adder |
The name is false with this snake. Though able to hunt at night, common night adders (Causus rhombeatus) are more active during the day. Causus rhombeatus is a heavily toad-eating snake, and hence appears in damper regions of Zimbabwe.
Common night adders don’t have particularly memorable patterns, with grey and black intermingling. Its colours are quite similar to the common egg eater (Dasypeltis scabra). But they can easily be identified by a black V-shape marking on the head, with the point ending between the eyes.
Though venomous, aggressive and eager to bite victims, common night adders have no confirmed deaths to their name. The venom is mostly cytotoxic, causing swelling and possibly mild necrosis.
This species only measures 30-60cm. Even the longest of all time was only 93cm (discovered in eastern Zimbabwe). However, this isn’t a license to underestimate them. Rhombic night adders can move surprisingly quickly, advancing 3 feet in one second from their stationary position on a rock. This is the longest and stockiest of the Causus viper family, with a bulky head and large tail.
| 2 | Common purple glossed snake |
The common purple glossed snake (Amblyodipsas polylepis) is a fossorial burrower which usually only appears after heavy rains, sometimes under leaf litter near farms or a mango tree. This snake isn’t the fastest, or most venomous, but it might be one of the shiniest. It also has an iridescent sheen, reflecting back colours of the rainbow, like the sunbeam snake of Thailand.
This snake rarely bites or lunges wildly. Instead, purple glossed snakes prefer to entrance their enemies. They hide their head and move their tail, which looks virtually identical, in a rhythmical pattern so that predators get distracted and attack the wrong thing. This isn’t a problem for us, as most humans aren’t hellbent on destroying a snake’s brain, but running far away before it can bite them. This species possesses venom, but its properties are barely understood. It’s assumed to be mild, possibly capable of causing swelling.
Purple glossed snakes mainly prey on another underground family: the worm lizards, legless reptiles which look like snakes themselves. Species confirmed in their diet include Monopeltis luandae, Anchieta’s worm lizard, and Zygaspis violacea.
| 3 | Olive grass snake |
A member of the vast, 33-strong Psammophis family, which is abundant in central and northern Zimbabwe, through to Kenya. Like the rest, this is a fast-moving snake which is strongly reliant on eyesight rather than smell. Olive grass snakes live in moist grasslands, and when not zipping around investigating their surroundings, they rest in termite mounds, small mammal holes, and fallen logs.
According to this 2006 study, olive grass snakes are far more common in areas without large African herbivores, including cattle. Their absence allows rodents to increase, giving olive grass snakes a mealtime bonanza. One of their favourite food sources is Mearns’s pouched mouse, which also likes soft moist grasslands.
Like the Montpellier snake, Psammophis mossambicus is one of a handful of snakes to rub itself with a mysterious nasal secretion, covering every inch of their scales and giving them a nice shine. The purpose is unknown – there’s apparently no connection to mating, and preventing moisture loss is one theory.
Unlike the cross-marked grass snake, a distant offshoot, the olive grass snake is nestled in the centre of the Psammophis family tree. Their closest relative is the olive grass racer (Psammophis phillipsi), followed by the short-snouted grass snake (P. brevirostris) and leopard grass snake (P. leopardinus).
| 4 | Eastern bark snake |
This is called the eastern bark snake because that’s what it looks like. It looks like God was out of ideas for his next creature and cast a spell on a nearby twig instead. Eastern bark snakes (Hemirhagerrhis nototaenia) occur in the southern half of Zimbabwe. They’re found lying on branches, but particularly within cracks in tree stumps where their bark camouflage allows complete disappearance. This is a slightly venomous snake which poses no threat to humans.
Eastern bark snakes prefer habitats at neither extreme, neither too wet or dry. They’re mainly found in dry savannahs, moist savannahs, and lowland forests. Lurking between tree cracks is actually an ambush strategy, where they blend in and pounce at lizards walking past, which probably think in their last seconds (unless they manage to dodge) that the tree is coming to life and pulling them in.
Eastern twig snakes are confirmed to hunt cape dwarf geckos (Lygodactylus capensis), and sometimes lure them in by waving an orange-tipped tail in a caterpillar motion. In one observation, the curious gecko was edging closer to the tree crack, until the bark snake accidentally moved its head ever so slightly, alerting the gecko and sending it fleeing.
| 5 | Black-headed centipede eater |
This species is recognisable by its black head contrasting against a uniformly red body. Black-headed centipede eaters live in southern Zimbabwe through to South Africa, and make their bases in old termite mounds where they can plot in peace. After seizing a centipede, they chew on their bodies for prolonged periods to inject a mild venom, ensuring that enough tiny droplets enter its body. Gradually, the centipede becomes paralysed, and the snake can swallow, which is always headfirst. Black-headed centipede eaters measure 30cm and are rarely aggressive towards humans.
For years, centipedes were the only food Aparallactus capensis was ever witnessed eating. Scientists wanted to test this reputation, so they examined 62 old centipede eaters stored in museums. They extracted 21 food items in total, and each one was a centipede, confirming what everyone knew.
They concluded: “if cape centipede eaters do eat non-centipede prey, they do so very infrequently“. Most belonged to the family Scolopendromorpha, the most aggressive and venomous centipedes of all.
| 6 | Spotted bush snake |
One of Africa’s most widespread snakes. This is a nervous and alert snake with superb climbing abilities. Spotted tree snakes appear in trees, rafters, and on brick walls alike. They have large eyes, which aren’t just cosmetic, but give them excellent vision.
Spotted tree snakes (Philothamnus semivariegatus) aren’t territorial and will sometimes gather in the same tree. They’re found across most of Zimbabwe, and indeed 60-70% of sub-Saharan Africa. This species is a juicy green, with round pupils surrounded by an orange iris. Spotted tree snakes look similar to boomslangs or even black mambas, but can be distinguished by black dots on their upper body. These black dots are particularly large as hatchlings, before gradually shrinking.
Though photographed in branches, Philothamnus semivariegatus isn’t a forest snake. They prefer mixed areas with tree clumps, such as savannahs, or cultivated human areas on the outskirts of forests. Their nemesis is the rock monitor, an absolute tank of a reptile, which eats them alive, swallowing by the tail.
| 7 | Black file snake |
A very difficult snake to identify. There’s several other black, glossy and shiny snakes in the southern African region. These include the venomous stiletto snake, and underground dwellers like black thread snakes. Only an expert can distinguish these characters, but black file snakes have white cracks visible between each black scale.
This species (Gracililima nyassae) is the only member of its family and measures 50-60cm. They travel in strange, jerky movements when nervous, and if picked up, they do virtually nothing, staying still and occasionally raising their heads up.
Black file snakes primarily consume lizards, but occasionally other snakes, including the eastern shovel snout. They live in dry forests, but also the heart of the savannah, with a whole set of iconic African creatures. You could spot one from a Safari vehicle if sharp enough, but most people’s eyes will be distracted, drawn to majestic cobras or giraffes. Even then, black file snakes usually follow the protective line of vegetation, giving them a corridor of shelter. They’d rather not be noticed if possible. This humble snake almost never attacks humans.
| 8 | Snouted night adder |
A small, slenderer cousin of the rhombic night adder. This species sticks to savannahs both dry and moist, and reaches 1800 metres in altitude. Snouted night adders (Causus defilippii) can be separated by an upturned snout, as the name suggests. They also live further east than their cousin, occupying most of eastern Zimbabwe. Snouted night adders are easy to find, as they love to bask in sun, while resting on rock slabs. The maximum length of Causus felippii is just 43cm.
Snouted night adders have similar venom to spotted night adders, cytotoxic and inducing rapid swelling, fever and intense pain. But with a smaller length of 20-35cm, they inject correspondingly less venom, and the effects are milder. Most swelling subsides after 2-3 days.
Skills of this snake include hunting during both day and night. Like its cousin, this is a toad lover. Rather than many small toads, they prefer to eat one large toad per meal, including square-marked toads (Bufo regularis). They also eats frogs such as African puddle frogs (Phrynobatrachus family) and African striped frogs (Spelaeophryne methneri).
| 9 | East African egg eater |
Another of the Dasypeltis egg-eating family. This species inhabits the extreme east of South Africa (Zululand), then continues northwards through Mozambique, into a sizeable portion of eastern Zimbabwe. Eastern egg eaters are incredibly skilled at finding bird eggs, as though they’re tracking a beeping homing device. They swallow them whole, and crack the shells open with specially modified vertebrae. This egg-shattering spine has been evolved by completely unrelated snakes, such as Japanese ratsnakes. Eastern egg eater snakes live in moist savannahs and evergreen forests, top locations for birds to lay their eggs. Yellow-streaked bulbul eggs are one confirmed meal.
When threatened, east African egg eaters (Dasypeltis medici) will immediately swivel into an S-shaped coil. This species makes a double warning bellow. It not only hisses sharply, but makes a whistling sound as it inhales the air for that hiss. They already have an expandable throat in place from their diet, so they also inflate this throat grotesquely to make themselves appear deceptively large.
The closer the threat (such as a human) approaches, the tighter the coils will become. All this is a ruse though – the eastern egg eater doesn’t even have teeth. They also rub their scales together sometimes, creating a rasping sound.
| 10 | Striped skaapsteker |
A sleek snake with a long tail. This is a rapid-moving species which doesn’t seem to have an off button. Spotted skaapstekers (Psammophylax tritaeniatus) inhabit virtually all of Zimbabwe, preferring open areas such as savannahs and grasslands rather than forests. They eat more mammals than other skaapstekers, and are particularly comfortable in towns. Residents might lift up a pile of rubbish only to have a lurking snake dart beneath their feet.
Striped skaapstekers could easily wield their speed for evil, but they’re reluctant to bite, preferring escape. They have a mild venom, which is poorly researched, but their rhombic skaapsteker cousin can unleash swelling and throbbing pain.
Striped skaaptekers overlap partially with the rhombic skaapsteker, but are hard to confuse: this species has beige-black stripes while the rhombic skaapsteker has black dots. The manic speed of striped skaapstekers almost certainly evolved to dodge predators, such as snake eagles and monitor lizards. Even the fastest snakes are sometimes caught, so they’ve never mastered the art of hyperactivity; there’s always room for snakes to keep accelerating.