What u think?I.D? [L. rufulus]

[BOOGY]

I origanly I.D this as L.fuscus based on head shape and colouration but im starting to seroiusly doubt myself. I even posted on another site under the above name. The pics aren't that great but please do give your opinion. Mpumalanga Nelspruit area.

[Westley Price]

Definitely a Brown Water Snake Lycodonomorphus rufulus.

Note the eliptical pupil in the last pic.

[Wolf777]

Im with wesley, brown water snake.

[BushSnake]

I'd also go for L.rufulus but based on the pinkish belly. Westley, what is the difference between the eyes of a Lamprophis and Lycodonomorphus?

[Fooble]

Bruin Water Slang

[BOOGY]

That is what i feared it to be afterwards......... darn

[Rishaad]

If you have the patience and the time do a scale count just to be sure. I am looking at the complete guide to snakes for SA book infront of me and correct me if i am wrong but both the yellow bellied and the common brown have eliptical pupils.

[Westley Price]

BS, if I'm not mistaken, all Lamprophis have vertical pupils. There is a difference between eliptical and vertical. Imagine L. capensis' pupils versus these.

Often people struggle to see eliptical pupils on Lycodonomonphis (they look round in low light), but here it can clearly be seen.

[BushSnake]

I've noticed differences, but have never been able to compare the pupils in similar light. Is the difference not just that Lamprophis (i.e. almost 100% nocturnal) can close up there pupils more, rather than actually having a different shaped pupil? Unfortunately I've never photographed a L.capensis in low light levels, but here is a photo of L.aurora taken in very low light levels. There doesn't seem to be as much of a difference as I originally thought, although I am quite sure that L.rufulus (water snakes) never close down their pupils so that only a vertical slit is exposed.

[Westley Price]

I've also never seen a L. rufulus with with vertical pupils the way that L. capensis has. I haven't had much to do with L. aurora. How do their pupils look in bright light?

I vaguely remeber at one stage there was talk about including L. rufulus in Lamprophis or is that just my imaginiation? BV or armata?

[jka]

Auroras have round pupils, diurnal.

I would go with brown water snake just because of the pink belly.

[Durban Keeper]

Off topic, but what a lovely aurora BS.

I would have ID'd it as a watersnake straight from the word go, but people have always been confusing L. rufulus with L. fuscus. Don't you just wish in most cases it could have been the latter...

Dean

[Bushviper]

Auroras are not diurnal.

The snake in question just looks like a Brown water snake. The L. fuscus is usually lighter in colour too.

[jka]

@Bushviper, Thanks for putting that straight.

Auroras are suppose to be active durning day and night what would you call that?

[fredsmith]

Auroras are suppose to be active durning day and night what would you call that?

An insomniac? Or perhaps diurnal with nocturnal tendencies or nocturnal with diurnal tendencies?
LOL!
Seriously though, Aurora's are nocturnal.