How Do You Identify Snakes In South Africa?
There are over 2,500 snake species in the world, with over 120 of them from South Africa. It is important to be able to identify a snake in order to know if it is venomous or will even attempt to attack you. Understanding this could be the difference between life or death. The common varietals of snakes in South Africa include the Puff Adder, the Horned and Many-Horned Adder, Black Mamba, Green Mamba, Eastern Tiger snake, Cobra, African Rock snake, Vine snake and the Rinkhal. Examine the shape of the South African snake’s head. Look for horn-like scales above the eyes, triangular heads, very strong jaws that jut out, or a rattle–the snake is very dangerous and should be avoided immediately. These snakes include Mambas, Adders, Rinkhals, Cobras and a handful of others. Snakes with more rounded heads are usually harmless. Take note of the snake’s posture and body language. Snakes that have short blunt tails are usually poisonous. If the South African snake coils up towards you and lifts
