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Thank you all for your comments If it's really a Olive Whip snake it was a very big specimen

it's really a great thread, with birds and raptors ID
thanks everybody

Folks just a correction on my previous post, The correct scientific name for the Olive Whip is [i]mossambicus [i]not [i]mossambica[i] as previously stated.

A very dangerous bite from one of these
if I understand it right!!!???

The olivewhip venom is not dangerous to man but can cause pain, swelling and nausea.

H. Erectus,

Olive Whip Snakes are "mildly venomous" back fanged snakes and are generally considered not to be dangerous to humans. Having said that however, they should be treated with caution as there venom is largely unstudied and there are a few bites on record which have resulted in fairly severe symptoms. Most bites will result in localised swelling and pain which resolves in a few days.
cheers

Thanks Bobbi Jane! The consensus is that it is a Puffadder. I took absolutely TONS of photos as I sat watching the entire scene from start to finish (almost 2 hours!) however, I think the photo that I posted here is about the clearest of the snake. There are a few more at the end of my Trip Report - "Questioning my Confirmation" but it seems that most of the mites reckon it's a Puffie!

Thanks again!

Thanks Nyami!

Thanks for the snake ID MacAdder! The consensus is that you are right about the snake but that the eagle is a tawny. I witnessed a scene at Transport Dam recently where a large bird (not sure what it was) attacked the weavers' nests in the tree in the middle of the dam. I'll post that pic soon on the stiffnecks site and see what people come up with ...

Thanks nyami for the reply, but to take it
further, ok olive understood but the whip
part of it?

Where did this snakes id originate??

H Erectus,
The ID originated from page 56. Our whips snakes belonging to the genus [i]Psammophis[i] used to be called either sand or grass snakes. The common name was changed to "whip snakes" in an attempt to standardise the names worldwide. The term whip refers to the fact that these snakes are long,slender and very fast moving.
Hope this anwers you question.

http://sites.google.com/site/snakesofso ... whip-snake

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/rep ... mbicus.htm

http://www.mpushini-fauna.com/olive-grass-snake.php

interesting links, thank you

Hi

Is it a python or a puffadder?
Thanks

I try... Rock Python
where you are... on a scale