ACCORDING to professional snake catcher, Warren Dick, the Green Water Snake is often mistaken for a Green Mamba and needlessly killed. The Natal Green Snake is another example of mistaken identity as it also shares the same green colour as that of the Green Mamba.
There are, however, a few distinct characteristics of a Green Mamba. A hatchling Green Mamba is more yellow/green in colour with a bit of black between the scales and averages about 40cm in length.
Also read: #Snakeseason: Gravid green mamba spotted on The Bluff
The Green Water Snake is a smallish bright green snake that averages 25 to 40cm in length with a maximum length of 1m. Most individuals are bright emerald green with a whitish belly and often have a yellow snout.
Green Water Snakes can be found throughout most of Durban where they live near permanent water sources where they mostly feed on frogs and small fish. Juveniles have been known to also eat grasshoppers. The Green Water Snake has no fangs and no venom, making it harmless to anything other than its prey.
Dick said that he doesn’t encounter Green Water Snakes often. “I was called out to a mechanics workshop a few weeks ago for a small green snake inside a car. I must admit, these are not my favourite kind of calls because small snakes can find so many spaces inside a car to hide, making it impossible to find them. But, fortunately, it was different this time – the snake was under the passenger seat of the car,” said Warren.
The snake was released in a suitable habitat on The Bluff where the species thrives.
To have some of your interesting insects, snakes or other wildlife identified, call or WhatsApp Warren on 072 211 0353, or visit his Facebook page Warren’s Small World
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