Twig Snake
Thelotornis capensis
Geographical Locale
- Found in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Appearance
- Coloring is similar to that of a twig; grey-brown with lighter markings.
- Very long and thin averaging 3 4/10" in length.
- Head is elongated, with large eyes and horizontal pupils.
Venom
- Haemotoxic – disabling the clotting process and causing internal and external bleeding.
- No antidote to a bite by this snake is available in South Africa.
The Bite
- Puncture marks at wound site.
- Actual bite not very painful.
- Likely to bleed copiously as blood clotting mechanism becomes affected.
Lifecycle
- Oviparous; females lay between 4 and 13 eggs in summer.
- Incubation period is between 2 and 3 months.
- Hatchlings between 9-13".
- Hatchlings identical in color to adults.
- Females extremely aggressive when guarding their eggs.
Habits
- Favored habitat is grassland, bushes and small trees.
- Timid snake and only likely to attack if provoked.
- Diet consists mainly of lizards, chameleons, bats, frogs and small birds.
