A smallish nocturnal snake that averages 40 – 45 cm in length and with a maximum length of 65 cm. It spends most of its time foraging in loose sand in search of small mammals, frogs and especially legless lizards, using its large rostral scale as a bulldozer.
Full Name: Speckled Shield-nose Snake (Aspidelaps scutatus scutatus)
Other Names: Skildneuskobra; Skildneusslang
Previously known as: Speckled Shield Cobra
Classification: VENOMOUS
A smallish nocturnal snake that averages 40 – 45 cm in length and with a maximum length of 65 cm. It spends most of its time foraging in loose sand in search of small mammals, frogs and especially legless lizards, using its large rostral scale as a bulldozer.
If threatened it will lift its head off the ground, flatten the neck region into somewhat of a hood and strike repeatedly while hissing.
The venom of the Speckled Shield-nose Snake is mildly cytotoxic and neurotoxic, causing local swelling and necrosis. Respiratory failure may occur but is rare. There is no antivenom for the bite of this snake and patients must be treated symptomatically.
