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Thanks for the fast replies! Here are some closer cropped shots that hopefully show more detail.

2 more of the first snake:




2 more of the second snake (not the best- snake moved fast and blended well with the bush):

Both are snouted cobras (Naja annulifera) then. I'd give up many lion sightings to see something like this crossing the road in front of me, so I'm quite jealous!

Thanks Anne-Marie, M Mouse, Heksie, and BushSnake for your fast replies and ideas!

I looked up all of the snakes you guys said. I too was thinking some sort of cobra for first snake (and looking at the snouted cobra it seems to fit!). I was wondering about black mamba for the second but thought the snake was rather thick to be one (it was quite impressive looking and really didn't care about our presence- but when it moved it moved fast.).

Bushsnake- is there a good way to differentiate between the spitting cobra and snouted cobra?

This thread has been very educational. We were quite pleased with our two snake sightings and happy to have encountered them while we were in our car (as opposed to say walking to our bungalows). At one time we thought we might have spotted a python, but quickly reversing and zooming in- the python turned out to be an old tire (an odd place for it to be sure). Ah well- maybe next time!

Thanks again for all the help.

They are actually quite easy to tell apart, but it depends on what characteristics are visible. The best way to tell them apart is to look at the belly. The Mozambique Spitting cobra has broken bands on its throat, whereas an adult snouted does not. See image below of a spitting cobra:


Mozambique spitting cobra from Lephalale

Keep in mind that few people wish to see the snake hooding like this, so they tend to get a sighting that looks more like this, but you can still see the bars on the throat:

Mozambique spitting cobra from Marakele National Park (April 2010)

The colouration is also different, but both species vary a bit so it is not easy to describe the differences. Apart from that, anything over 1.5m is probably a snouted cobra because spitting cobras seldom (if ever) reach those large lengths.

Then the snout is obviously a bit different in the Snouted cobra. Compare the following 2 photos to see the difference.


Head of a Mozambique spitting cobra from Nelspruit

Hope this helps!

Please identify this snake. Apologies for the poor quality, but it was taken on full zoom!

We photographed it on the banks of the Crocodile River while on a recent visit to Kruger Park.

We estimate that it was about 3m long. Although it moved fairly slowly across the sand bank, it swam swiftly across a rivulet then reached high into the reeds and disappeared.

What a cool sighting! Now this one is without a doubt a black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis). They normally appear a bit longer than what they are because they generally keep moving.

I wonder whether it is hooding at the Egyptian goose or whether it just had lunch...

Thanks for posting this one!

(BTW - I'm quite sure the snake sightings this weekend on SANParks.org.za have been better than those in the reserves )

Thanks Bushsnake for the prompt reply!

It was indeed a cool sighting! We had the pleasure of observing him for about 20 minutes from a vey safe distance!

There were about 3 Egyptian geese inspecting the mamba and a very brave blacksmith plover trying to see him off. Perhaps the plover irritated the mamba, hence the hooding?

thank you BushSnake for the interesting explanations

Just to add to what BushSnake already explained about the differences between the Snouted-Cobra and Mozambique Spitting Cobra;
If you get close enough you will also notice that the eye colour of the Snouty is black and that of the Mozzie is light in colour.
Great sightings all. The plover chasing the mamba off was probably trying to distractit and lead it away from chicks or its' nest.

Very educational postings !
Thanks to all

Hello,

I found the snake below at Boulders Beach last week, just after the ticket office. He was quite small, maybe 1 cm in diameter and about 20 cm or so long, I thought it was a slug at first glance. My best guess so far is brown house snake or maybe mole snake but I really don't know. Can anyone help please ?




and a close up of the head :


and one more to try and show some perspective (he was on a concrete border on the walkway)


Thanks in advance !
Kelly

Hi Kelly.
It looks like a Common Slug-eater Duberria lutrix
If you have alook at the bottom photograph, you'll see a snail in the background. That is its' main diet.

Yip, definitely a slug eater.

Thank you both for this, I have never heard of this type of snake and probably would have never figured it out. Thanks for pointing out the snail too, I didn't notice that. Lots of interesting info in this thread !

Hi,

Please help with the flowwing photos that I took in the Kruger. I think I can ID some of them, but as I'm not an expert I need help.

African Rock Python?



Black Mamba?



Boomslang?



Mozambique Spiting Cobra



Nite Adder



Same Nite Adder



No Idea?



Skaap Steeker?



Puff Adder?



Spotted Bush Snake?



Thanks