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Os that is a puff adder!!

Folks, that is a Python.

It’s not a puff adder that is for sure.

MMMnnhhh OK, to get back to the links,
very interesting McAdder.

Nyami mentioned" either grass or whip
snakes" Thanks for the info on whip snake
but could you tell us more about grass snakes
please.

This was seen on the S3 on the way to paul kruger gate

H. Erectus,
In Southern Africa and the rest of Africa for that matter, the snakes which we currently refer to as Whip Snakes all belong to the genus Psammophis. They used to called either grass or sand snakes depending on the species.

General info:
They are small to large snakes with the head distinct from the neck. The eye is medium to large in size with a round pupil.
The grooved back fangs are large and sit just behind the eye in the top jaw. The anterior mandibular teeth are distinctly enlarged and can give the impression that these snake have two sets of fangs.
They are fast active diurnal hunters which prey on a large variety of small invertebrates such as rodents, lizard and even other snakes. Although they have venom some species utilize constriction in conjuction with the venom to subdue prey. Most species inhabit savannah, arid scrubland and grasslands. They are oviparous - egg layers. cheers

Thanks for the feedback Nyami, reason me
asking is,- I found a rather bright coloured
snake all curled around a tuft of grass. It was
orange along the back, becoming bright yelow
along the bellie. There was a visible pattern
along the length with spots. It was aggro and
kept striking. Un-ravelled maybe 600mm.

A grass snake????

H. erectus,
Based on your description I would shy away from it being a species of Whip snake. Where did you see the snake and what time of day? What was the body structure like(fat,thin, long and slender)? Was the head distinct from the body? Habitat?

Google photos of Spotted Harlequin Snake (Homoroselaps lacteus) or Eastern Tiger snake (Telescopus semiannulatus). Maybe we get lucky as there are only a few South african snakes which have distinct orange colouration.

cheers

The descriptions is somewhat vague but have a look at an image of a Herald or Red-Lipped Snake (Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia).

http://www.johanmarais.co.za/Common_Snakes/index.html

nice link, thank you

I'm quite sure I saw a "Coral Shield Cobra", in Kgalagadi, in February (3 years ago)... but it was so fast... could not have a picture
is it possible ?

superb

Nice photo of harlequin snake Mcadder and
not the one Nyami.

Birds gave away it's hiding in short savannah.
40 metres from my stoep. When I opened the
grass there was it striking at any movement.

It was tightly curled around the tuft of grass
and had many kinks so to speak. The orange/
yellow coloration was more uniform. From what
I can remember there was a feint pattern along
the length of it, spotted.

It actually clutched at the tuft of grass like it was
not to be taken anywhere soon. It may have been
slightly longer than 60cm, but someone said to me
grass snake.

H erectus, I think you've got us stumped! I cannot think which snake you saw. Too little info to make ANY ID.
I am however positive that the snake was "holding on" to the grass because of the attack by the birds you saw. AND the lashing out at anything that moved - fight if not flight!

indeed,

also very much!! Thye birds went mad!!
Ok It be, not my intention to try stump anyone
and therefore let this one rest.

Thank you Bobs J and Macerdee!!!

Maybe next time I should look more properly!!!