The Cape wolf snake (Lycophidion capense) is a species of oviparous,[1][2] nonvenomous snake which occurs over a wide area of Southern, Central, and East Africa.[1][3] Though docile and harmless, it may be confused with the very venomous stiletto snake.[4]
The species contains three subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies, L. c. capense:[1]
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Lycophidion.
Adults regularly reach 40 cm in length,[4] but some grow to 64 cm. It has a flattened, tapering head and marbled eye. The brown or black lateral and dorsal scales are tipped white,[5] while the ventral scales are all-white. Long recurved fangs are present on the upper as well as lower jaws,[4] for which they are named.
They are widely distributed but prefer damp locations,[4] with lowland forest and fynbos being preferred habitats. They feed mostly on geckos and skinks which they bite and kill by constriction.[2] They are believed to reach an age of 15 to 20 years.[5]
The Cape wolf snake (Lycophidion capense) is a species of oviparous, nonvenomous snake which occurs over a wide area of Southern, Central, and East Africa. Though docile and harmless, it may be confused with the very venomous stiletto snake.
Lycophidion capense est une espèce de serpents de la famille des Lamprophiidae[1].
Cette espèce se rencontre dans la moitié Est de l'Afrique[1].
Selon Reptarium Reptile Database (25 avril 2015)[2] :
Les sous-espèces Lycophidion capense pembanum et Lycophidion capense multimaculatum ont été élevées au rang d'espèce.
Son épithète spécifique, composée de cap[e] et du suffixe latin -ense, « qui vit dans, qui habite », lui a été donnée en référence au lieu de sa découverte, Le Cap.
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Lycophidion capense est une espèce de serpents de la famille des Lamprophiidae.
