Mole snake
| Mole snake | ||||||||||||
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Mole snake ( Pseudaspis cana ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Pseudaspis | ||||||||||||
| Fitzinger , 1843 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Pseudaspis cana | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The mole snake ( Pseudaspis cana ) is a snake-like species found in almost all of South Africa . It is the only species of the monotypical genus Pseudaspis .
features
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Color and size of the mole snake can vary greatly depending on the distribution area . Animals found in the south are usually uniformly black, while snakes from northern areas are brown, red-brown, gray or even yellowish. Young animals wear a brown youthful dress, with dark brown or black saddle spots that fade more and more over time. The ventral side, which is lighter in color than the back, is often whitish or cream-colored. The length of adult animals varies between 100 cm and 200 cm. Mole snakes are extremely strong and sometimes look downright beefy. The head merges almost seamlessly into the muscular body. The snout is slightly flattened and indicates the burrowing behavior of this snake.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the mole snake extends over almost all of South Africa. It can be found in the Cape Province (including Robben Island ) as well as in Zimbabwe , Botswana and Namibia , where it inhabits a wide variety of habitats. Following their prey, they are often found on farms .
Way of life
As the name suggests, the mole snake spends a lot of time underground. Young animals in particular actively dig in loose soil to hide. Older animals are more often seen on the surface. These snakes often inhabit rodent burrows, the original inhabitants of which were often previously eaten by them. Adult snakes hunt gold mole rats , mice , rats and just about any other small mammal they can overwhelm. In this way they take on the task of pest control in many regions. Eggs and birds should also belong to the prey spectrum . Young animals mainly feed on small lizards . Despite the often underground life, the mole snake is quite adaptable and can climb as well as swim.
behavior
Mole snakes are active hunters who pursue their prey and kill by entwining them with their massive bodies. Sometimes lurking However, they also their prey by waiting nearly hidden beneath the surface until a suitable rodent in range comes. If this is the case, her muscular body makes it possible for her to appear almost explosively to the surface and overwhelm the victim in a flash. Younger animals in particular often have a range of around 80% of their own body length. When threatened, mole snakes turn out to be shy and flee. If a certain distance is not reached or the animal is cornered, their behavior turns into impetuous aggressiveness. Young animals in particular lay their bodies in snares before an attack and warn with a loud, metallic hiss. Because of this behavior, they are sometimes mistaken for puff adders or sand rattle otters . Adults are often mistaken for cape cobras .
Reproduction
A specialty of the males' courtship behavior is that they are not satisfied with harmless comment fights during the mating season , but fight each other seriously and bloody. It is not uncommon for opponents to inflict gaping wounds with their fangs, which can even expose the bones. In the wild, large, old males can often be seen with considerable scars all over their bodies .
The mating takes place from early summer until October. In contrast to most other snakes, mole snakes are viviparous , meaning they give birth to fully developed young. The birth of the boys takes place in March and April. Depending on their size, the females give birth to 30 to 50 young animals. In one exceptional case, a mole snake gave birth to 95 live cubs at London Zoo . At birth, the young are 20-30 cm tall.
literature
- Bannister, Anthony and Patterson, Rod: Reptiles of South Africa . Landbuch-Verlag, Hanover. ISBN 978-3-7842-0374-4
- Marais, Johan: Snakes and snakebite in Southern Africa . Struik Publishers. ISBN 978-1-86872-281-5
