A colourful snake that averages 18-25 cm in length but can reach just over 30 cm. It lives in loose sand and leaf litter in coastal forest and moist savanna. It usually remains just below the surface in loose sandy soil but may be seen on roads on warm summer nights.
Full Name: Jan’s Shovel-snout (Prosymna janii)
Other Names: Jan se graafneusslang, Mozambique Shovel-snout
Classification: HARMLESS
A colourful snake that averages 18-25 cm in length but can reach just over 30 cm. It lives in loose sand and leaf litter in coastal forest and moist savanna. It usually remains just below the surface in loose sandy soil but may be seen on roads on warm summer nights.
When threatened it may lift the front part of the body well off the ground and slowly sway to and fro with the mouth agape. This snake feeds on reptile eggs, especially hard-shelled gecko eggs. Females lay up to 5 eggs in summer. This snake is harmless and poses no threat to humans.
