Just when one think you know it all, you learn something new
In February we saw the following snake near Olifants and immediately presumed it is a female Boomslang….the colour, the size and those big eyes...
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On Flickr, a guy commented on the above photo, saying it is actually an African Beaked Snake….I grabbed my snake book, and yip, this is actually a Rufous Beaked Snake (Rhamphiophis rostratus). The characteristic that can be used to distinguish between the Boomslang and this Beaked Snake is that the Beaked Snake has a dark stripe going through its eye…..as can be seen on this closer crop.
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The Rufous Beaked Snake is a mildly venomous snake and its venom has virtually no effect on humans.
Some more info on this snake (taken from
Fishing Owl):
Quote:
Length: 1 –1.6 m
Rufous Beaked Snakes are yellowish brown to pale red-brown with each scale dark-edged. Head has dark streak either side extending from nostril and running across each eye. Underside creamy white, sometimes edged with reddish brown. Distinctive hooked beak.
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