[Pictures] Learn more about the Natal green snake
The Natal green snake is very often confused with the green mamba, however the quickest way to distinguish the difference is by belly colour. The green mamba is generally the same shade of green above and below, whereas the Natal green snake has a brighter yellowish green belly.
THE Natal green snake is a bright green snake with a yellowish belly, sometimes with light black spots or black between the scales. This snake is usually thinner than the average index finger and does not grow longer than a meter.
There are two subspecies of this snake, the Eastern and the Western Natal green snakes, both of which can be found in our area, although the Eastern is far more common. The way to tell the two apart is by their eye colour.
The Eastern Natal green has yellow around the pupil, while the Western Natal green is dark around the pupil.
This snake is very often confused with the green mamba, however the quickest way to distinguish the difference is by belly colour. The green mamba is generally the same shade of green above and below, whereas the Natal green snake has a brighter yellowish green belly.
The Natal green’s favourite food is tree frogs and geckos.
According to Warren Dick, it is similar in habit to the spotted bush snake, although far less common in the Durban South area.
“I have only seen them within or near to natural open areas. These snakes do not have fangs nor venom, making them harmless to humans and pets. Similar to the spotted bush snake, they have got a good set of tiny sharp teeth, which they use to securely grab their prey and swallow it alive.”
“A recently discovered fun fact is that these snakes have a type of anticoagulant in their saliva, meaning that a bite from this snake will bleed far more than the average pin prick, however this is nothing to worry about. The bleeding does stop within a few minutes,” said Warren.
Contact Warren to have some of your interesting insects, snakes or spiders identified, send him a Whatsapp or call him on 072 211 0353.
Follow the conversation on Facebook, Warren’s Small World.
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 876 3179.
The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun).
