Olive marsh snake

The olive marsh snake (Natriciteres olivacea) is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Olive marsh snake
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Natriciteres
Species:	N. olivacea
Binomial name
Natriciteres olivacea (W. Peters, 1854)
Synonyms[2]
Coronella olivacea W. Peters, 1854 Zacholus olivaceus — Rochebrune, 1884 Tropidonotus olivaceus — Boulenger, 1893 Mizodon olivaceus — Bocage, 1895 Natrix olivaceus — Schmidt, 1923 Neusterophis olivaceus — Loveridge, 1951 Natriciteres olivacea — Loveridge, 1953

Description

N. olivacea is a small snake which exhibits sexual dimorphism. Males may attain a maximum total length (including tail) of only 27 cm (11 in), but the larger females may attain a total length of 33 cm (13 in).^[3]

It has smooth dorsal scales, which are arranged in 19 rows at midbody, reducing to 17 rows towards the rear.^[3]

Dorsally, it is dark olive. Ventrally, it is whitish. The upper labials are whitish, with dark vertical bars at the sutures.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

N. olivacea is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, both Congos (Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo), Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.^[2]

The preferred habitat of N. olivacea is savanna.^[3]

Biology

N. olivacea is oviparous. In early summer the adult female lays a clutch of 6-8 eggs. Each egg measures 22 x 9 mm (.87 x .35 inch).^[3] It preys on winged termites.^[3]