There are 8 snakes in southern Africa that may be green in colour, 6 of the 8 green snakes are commonly encountered. These snakes can be complicated to tell apart and many people struggle to do so. Only two of these snakes are highly venomous, namely the Green Mamba and the Boomslang. The other four snakes are the harmless Green Snakes in the genus Philothamnus, commonly called Bush Snakes, Green Snakes and the Green Water Snake. These snakes are often killed needlessly as people confuse them with the Green Mamba or Boomslang. The harmless green snakes can be tricky to tell apart, but with the use of distribution maps and some morphological features (scale counts and colour) they can be identified.

The figure below will help you understand some of the references to head scalation discussed in each species account.

Green Mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps)

The Green Mamba is a large snake that can reach up to 2.5 m in length. They possess a potent venom that is both neurotoxic and cytotoxic and bites often result in swelling. Polyvalent antivenom is effective against the venom of this species. In South Africa they are restricted to within 40 km of the sea in northern Zululand but around Durban and the KZN south coast no more than about 4 km from the sea, where they live in dense coastal forest. Further north in Africa they go further inland and reach the forests on the eastern side of Zimbabwe. They can be identified by the elongated coffin-shaped head and large size. The belly is a pale green or yellowish green and there may be the odd yellow scale on the body. These snakes are shy and live in trees (arboreal), seldom venturing to the ground. On the head profile you can see that this species lacks a loreal scale, separating it from snakes of the genus Philothamnus.

Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)

The Boomslang is a large snake that can reach lengths of around 2.3 m. They have a potently haemotoxic venom and a bite requires medical attention. Fortunately it is an extremely docile snake that rarely bites unless caught or stood on. There is an effective monovalent antivenom available for a bite from a Boomslang. In Southern Africa they are widely distributed avoiding the dry treeless areas of the west. These snakes are arboreal, but will go to the ground to bask or catch prey. The Boomslang can be identified by the short stubby snout and large eye. In juveniles (under a meter) the eye is a bright emerald colour, going olive green as they age while the overall body colour is grey and not green. Males are generally green, or black with yellow or greenish sides in the Western and most of the Eastern Cape. Females are usually olive brown, but occasionally green females have been found. The scales are heavily keeled creating a unique scale pattern amongst green snakes. The loreal scale is present in this species, separating it from the Green Mamba. Juvenile Boomslang are usually light grey to brown above with stippling of blue, the throat is yellow to orange, making it unique in colour and very different to the Philothamnus. Any snake under 80 cm that is green is very unlikely to be a Boomslang.

Green Water Snake (Philothamnus hoplogaster)

The Green Water Snake is a common species in the eastern half of South Africa and further north in Africa. It reaches a maximum length of around a meter, but averages about 50cm. It is not as thin as the Natal Green Snakes and has a more rounded head and a slightly shorter tail. The eye has a lot of yellow, and the lower jaw is pale white. The snout is often yellow on this species and occasionally there may be black spots up the neck (those that occur further north). Both species of Natal Green Snake have keeled ventral scales, helping them grip in trees, while the Green Water Snake does not have these keeled belly scales. Compared to the Angolan Green Snake, the Green Water Snake only has two upper labials making contact with the eye.

Eastern Natal Green Snake (Philothamnus natalensis natalensis)

There are two subspecies of the Natal Green Snake. Distribution separates them along the coast, with the Eastern Natal Green Snake occurring northeast of Isipingo Beach and Western Natal Green Snake occurring southwest of Isipingo beach. Head scalation between the two subspecies is very similar, although Western Natal Green Snakes can have a single temporal occasionally instead of the standard double temporal scales. The eye of the Eastern Natal Green Snake usually has more yellow present than the Western Natal Green Snake which has dark eyes. The Eastern Natal Green Snake has keeled ventral scales, including the subcaudal scales under the tail. The Western Natal Green Snake has keeled ventral scales to the cloaca, but not onto the tail. Generally, Eastern Natal Green Snakes are a bright green, sometimes with a bit of yellow, especially around the head and belly. They can have dark spots on the neck region like the specimen pictured. The Eastern Natal Green Snake averages around 75 cm, but can exceed a meter in length.

Western Natal Green Snake (Philothamnus natalensis occidentalis)

The Western Natal Green Snake averages around 75 cm, but can exceed a meter in length. These snakes are long and thin in profile, usually with turquoise on the tail and head and dark eyes. The head scales are the same as the Eastern Natal Green Snake, but occasionally the Western Natal Green Snake has a single temporal scale (sometimes only on one side of the head) instead of the standard two. These snakes are often found around water and streams and in well wooded regions. When agitated, the Western Natal Green Snake can inflate the throat region and expose turquoise speckles between the scales. They are harmless, but bites often bleed freely for a short period. Both Natal Green Snakes can be separated from the Spotted Bush Snake by having only two upper labials making contact with the eye compared to the standard three in Spotted Bush Snakes.

Spotted Bush Snake (Philothamnus semivariegatus)

The Spotted Bush Snake is the widest ranging Philothamnus in Southern Africa and probably the most commonly encountered. It is relatively easy to identify, having spots on the first half of the body and a prominent yellow to red iris. These long thin snakes average around 60-80cm, but can exceed a meter in length. In KZN and the Eastern Cape, they are a bright green with dark spots, mainly on the front half of the snake. In the north they are often green going into a coppery brown towards the tail, again with dark spots mainly on the front half of the snake. Specimens around Springbok in the Northern Cape can have bright yellow and turquoise on the head with dark spots. In the western regions of the Eastern Cape, they can often lack spots and are a light green with a pale chin. These slender snakes are harmless, but bite freely if handled. They hunt geckos and lizards and are often found in and around houses.

Chart of the head scales of the Common Green Snakes of South Africa

Dichotomous key to the identification of the common green snakes of South Africa. 

How it works:

• Each step has two choices (A and B)
• If A is false, move to B.
• When you find the correct choice, follow to the number at the end of the line. This will take you to another choice. Repeat until you get to a species name.
• At the end of your choices, you should be at the correct species.

Does the snake have:

1a. Three upper labials making contact with the eye…………………………….2

1b. Two upper labials making contact with the eye……………………………….3

2a. Single temporal scale ……………………………………………………………5

2b. Double temporal scales ……………………Philothamnus semivariegatus

3a. Single temporal scales………..……………………Philothamnus hoplogaster

3b. Double temporal scales…………………………………………………………4

4a. Dark eye with thin incomplete iris visible ….Philothamnus n. occidentalis

4b. Complete iris fading into black…………………Philothamnus n. natalensis

5a. Dark green sometimes with black spots ……… Philothamnus angolensis

5b. Reddish-brown stripe running down the body…..…Philothamnus ornatus