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Black-headed centipede-eater

Aparallactus capensis

Description:

One of my favorite South African snakes,really wonderful little snake, The Black-headed centipede eater can be identified by its distinctive black head and collar, its small thin body and strictly nocturnal lifestyle. It grows to an average length of 30 cm and a maximum length of 40 cm. Found throughout the eastern half of South Africa (as well as throughout Lesotho and Swaziland), it is also present in southern and central Mozambique, Zimbabwe and eastern Botswana. It favours the following habitats: moist savanna, lowland forest and grassland where it is typically found in termite mounds. Exclusively eats centipedes. Eaten by other snakes (including garter snakes and stiletto snakes), spiders, scorpions and centipedes (very rarely). Oviparous (egg-laying), lays between 2 and 4 eggs in summer. Has an average life span of 20 years. Although venomous, it is not thought to be dangerous to man and due to the small size of its teeth it is unable to pierce the skin when biting.

Habitat:

This one was found under a small stone near a dam

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WildAdventress
Spotted by
WildAdventress

Newcastle Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Spotted on May 19, 2013
Submitted on May 19, 2013

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