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.