The Spotted Bush Snake is commonly seen in suburban gardens. It is a long, thin, green snake and the front half usually has blackish spots. Some individuals are green in front but become more of a coppery colour towards the rear.
This excellent climber averages 60 to 90 cm but may, as an exception, reach 1,3 m in length. It hunts for geckos and small reed and tree frogs, and is often found between walls and roofs, especially thatched buildings. In addition to frogs and geckos, it also feeds on other lizards, especially chameleons. It is very quick and will usually climb higher and higher if threatened.
It frequents riverbanks, shrubs, and bushes, and is widespread throughout most of eastern southern Africa as far down as Port Elizabeth but may also be found in parts of the northern Cape and Namibia.
This snake moves around during the day, often sleeping on the outer branches of a tree from where it will drop to the ground should a predator approach. With its strongly keeled belly scales, it can easily climb up face-brick walls or the rough bark of a tree. When threatened or captured it may inflate the neck region to expose the vivid blue skin between the scales, and it will bite readily, but is quite harmless.
Like the Boomslang, this snake may also raise its head off the ground and undulate the neck – why snakes do this is still unclear.
Mating takes place in spring and females lay 3 to 12 eggs with the young measuring 23 to 30 cm in length. The young are perfect replicas of the adults, and hatch at the same time that a variety of gecko eggs hatch, thus being provided with ample food.
The Spotted Bush Snake is predated on by a variety of predatory birds as well as other snakes, especially the Vine Snake. Domestic cats kill large numbers of these snakes.
This harmless snake is often mistaken for the Boomslang or Green Mamba but can easily be identified by the dark spots on the front half of the snake as well as the dark eye with an orange pupil.
Johan Marais is one of Africa’s leading herpetologists and is CEO of the African Snakebite Institute. He is a best-selling author, a compulsive photographer, and a travel addict. Check out the website on www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com – get your free App on the link http://bit.ly/snakebiteapp
