Cape wolf snake

The Cape wolf snake (Lycophidion capense) is a species of oviparous,^[2][3] nonvenomous snake which occurs over a wide area of Southern, Central, and East Africa.^[2][4] Though docile and harmless, it may be confused with the very venomous stiletto snake.^[5]

Cape wolf snake
At Lower Sabie, southern Kruger National Park
Ventral aspect on an individual from Pretoria, Gauteng
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Lamprophiidae
Genus:	Lycophidion
Species:	L. capense
Binomial name
Lycophidion capense (A. Smith, 1831)[2]
IUCN range   Extant (resident)
Synonyms
Lycodon capensis A. Smith, 1831 Lycophidium capense — Boulenger, 1893 Lycophidion capense — Laurent, 1968[2]

Subspecies

The species contains three subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies, L. c. capense:^[2]

• Lycophidion capense capense (A. Smith, 1831)
• Lycophidion capense jacksoni (Boulenger, 1893)
• Lycophidion capense loveridgei Laurent, 1968

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Lycophidion.

Description

Adults regularly reach 40 cm in length,^[5] 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,^[6] while the ventral scales are all-white. Long recurved fangs are present on the upper as well as lower jaws,^[5] for which they are named.

Found dead, with a Sundevall's writhing skink in its stomach.

Diet and behaviour

They are widely distributed but prefer damp locations,^[5] with lowland forest and fynbos being preferred habitats. They feed mostly on geckos and skinks which they bite and kill by constriction.^[3] They are believed to reach an age of 15 to 20 years.^[6]