The green snakes in South Africa cause a great deal of confusion with every green snake being a Green Mamba or a Boomslang.
Always consider the distribution – the Eastern Natal Green Snake (Philothamnus natalensis natalensis) occurs along the KZN coast from Amanzimtoti northwards along the coast and eventually reaches Nelspruit and gets into the eastern Kruger National Park.
Western Natal Green Snake (Philothamnus natalensis occidentals) occurs south of Amanzimtoti down into the Western Cape, also the KZN Midlands reaching the Drakensberg and elsewhere further north. Both distributions overlap somewhat with that of the Green Water Snake (Philothamnus hoplogaster).
Spotted Bush Snake
A small, slender and typically around 1m in length snake. An excellent climber which often enters houses through open windows in search of geckos. Usually bright green to olive green with black spots or crossbars on the first two-thirds of the body with the last third being solid in colour. View the profile here.
Eastern Natal Green Snake
Usually, a bright uniform green but can also have a few black cross bars on the first third of the body. Known for having a bright yellow iris of the eye. Having both keeled ventral and sub-caudal scales, it climbs well. When captured it may inflate it’s neck and bite viciously. View the profile here.
Western Natal Green Snake
Usually, a turquoise green, especially on the head and tail with a notably dark. They can have white flecks on the first third of the body and dark skin between the scales The sub-caudals are not keeled. View the profile here.
