Reptile Quiz (RV)

[Dream Weaver]

Yes, Cantona. One of the distinguishing features of a black mamba is the way its mouth seems to be permanently smiling.

[Cantona]

Thanks Dream Weaver

Puff adders are viviparous, which means they give birth to live baby snakes rather than laying eggs. The clutches of young snakes can be large, with mothers giving birth to _________________young at a time (on average)

Fill in the gap.

[Chacma]

Thanks Dream Weaver

Puff adders are viviparous, which means they give birth to live baby snakes rather than laying eggs. The clutches of young snakes can be large, with mothers giving birth to _________________young at a time (on average)

Fill in the gap.

Only a mother could love giving birth to 40 puff adders!
But apparently they can have a litter of up to 80

[Cantona]

Correct Dream Weaver, it would be an absolute nightmare coming across 40 juniors as they venture off into the world
Over to you

[Chacma]

After the Mozambique Spitting Cobra and the Puff Adder, what accounts for the majority of serious snake bites in South Africa.

[Cantona]

The Stiletto Snake?

[Chacma]

The Stiletto Snake?

Correct Cantona, the Stiletto is able to inflict incredibly painful bites which cause horrible injuries. There is no anti-venom. We watch one slithering around our porch at Shimuwini once, and I reassured Dream Weaver it was just a mole snake - a common mistake which leads to people handle them!
Only identified it later by photographs

[Cantona]

Lucky escape there Chacma they are quite tricky to identify as you say!

Which small inoffensive snake moves in short erratic bursts when harassed, mimicking the stiletto snakes movements?

[Dream Weaver]

That is the wolf snake. I must admit I’d never of it until I started looking for the answer to your question, Cantona

[Cantona]

Over to you Dream Weaver

[Dream Weaver]

How many species of chameleon are there in South Africa?

[Cantona]

There are 22 species within South Africa, around 80% of these species are endemic.

[Dream Weaver]

Indeed there are, Cantona
Well done

[Cantona]

Thanks Dream Weaver

What snake is being described below?

The upper side is pale orange to salmon pink in color with black or dark-brown cross bars or blotches along the back and tail. It has a distinct head and large orange eyes with vertical pupils, and a narrow body with long tail. A slow-moving nocturnal snake that hunts for lizards, especially geckos, nestling birds, bats and small rodents. It is an excellent climber and spends its days hiding under the bark of trees or under rocks.

[Dream Weaver]

The Eastern Tiger Snake - amazing orange eyes!