ID Please [Marbled Tree Snake (Dipsadaboa aulica)]

[Rishaad]

Hi

My friend at work found this snake last night in the passage way of his house and since he knows I like snakes he decided to bring to work this morning. He lives in Richards Bay, KZN. He says his ears are still ringing from his wifes screaming. The snake is brown in colour with white spots running along the spine. The eyes are yellow in colour. The snake is about 20cm long and is quite aggressive and strikes quite alot. He also plays dead every now and then. Unfortunately my digital camera is at home and I had to use a cellphone to take these pics. Any ideas on what this is?

[Westley Price]

The white spots made me think Herald snake, but this pics are too unclear. I dont think it's a Herald though. The posture and head shape doesnt seem right. Let's wait and see what some other members say

[Buck Rogers]

too long to be an adder, also wrong area to be an adder. The first photo looks like a house snake of some sort, second photo of the underbelly is also very strange.

As Westley says the first photo makes me think herald when i look at it again, but I wont say another word until I see better photos, ganna put my foot in my mouth, like when I said that I will eat the next centipede eater I see

[Fooble]

Rishaada Looks like Red Lipped Herald or Herald Snake (Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia) from those spots
But from those pics seems to have a super long tail though and really slender where as heralds arent usually that long fro the size ect.

Try get some clearer pictures when you get home.
Like Buck Says Seems too long to be an adder of sorts

[Westley Price]

I might be far off the mark here, but that looks like some sort of exotic to me. Maybe an asian rai snake species. I dont know that side of the country, but I cant think of any indigenous that looks like that.

[Rishaad]

He has a pinkish underbelly. The head and eyes look alot like a spotted house snake. I will try and borrow a digicam today and take better pics. I am too impatient to know what this little animal is. Maybe I will take a drive home to pick up my camera. At the moment I am stumped. The brown is also a light shade of brown and after closer inspection those spots are all over and not just over the spine area.

[Mitton]

Swazi Rock Snake (Lamprophis swazicus)? Do they occur in KZN, not sure.
Or maybe Marbled Tree snake, again not sure if they occur there.

Just the long slender look makes me think one of these.

[Joesoapdurban]

I'd go with either a whip or sand snake, possibly a skappsteker. cant be sure without a better pic. get some and i'll ID it tomorrow. I'm really curious to find out

[Rishaad]

Ive searched the gallery on the marbled tree snake and this is what came up. He looks alot like this but the brown seems darker. The white tipped tongue is definately there. Also the strike position is identical.

[Pythonodipsas]

From your pics and what you've said, it is most definitely a Marbled Tree Snake (Dipsadaboa aulica). The occur over most of Zululand and are quite variable. Can be any shade of brown or reddish brown, some have a white or yellow stippled pattern and some are just plain. Usually the head has pretty reticulated markings. They can get up to 1 meter at a push, but an average adult is 60 - 80 cm. They do well on geckos and tree frogs and can be conditioned to take baby mice. The are interesting in that their eggs are dimpled and appear rough.

[Rishaad]

Ok just rushed home to pick up my camera and get some pics. He also has 2 bluish/greenish spots above the eyes. Finally some decent pics.

[Pythonodipsas]

These pics confirm what I said. Nice snake.

[Rishaad]

Thanx man. Cant seem to find any husbandry info on this guy. The questions are: It is so small so what do i feed it and how much is it worth

[jka]

You can feed it geckos, lizards and some toads or frogs.

[Pythonodipsas]

Ahem! I mentioned what they eat in an earlier post above. Read there for more info!

Why do you wanna put a price on its head. If I tell you its worth R10 what would you do then?

They are not commonly kept but are fascinating and beautiful. Keep them moist with branches to climb on and have a warm spot. Make sure you have a supply of frogs as they're mostly reluctant to take toads. They like securtiy and can be sensitive so give ample hide spots in different areas of the cage. They appreciate a misting now and then.