Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Abyssinian house snake

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Kingdom
  
Animalia

Class
  
Reptilia

Suborder
  
Serpentes

Scientific name
  
Lamprophis abyssinicus

Phylum
  
Chordata

Order
  
Squamata

Family
  
Lamprophiidae

Rank
  
Species


Similar
  
Fisk's house snake, Aurora house snake, Boaedon lineatus

The Abyssinian house snake or Ethiopian house snake, Lamprophis abyssinicus, is a small colubrid snake in the genus Lamprophis. It was once thought to be endemic to Ethiopia, but has been found in Eritrea recently.

Contents

Appearance

This is a small snake, attaining lengths of 20-24 in. They are sexually dimorphic, as the females grow larger than the males. The overall colour is a tan brown through orange to red, with large, deep-brown or black stripes running from the rostral scale through the eye to the rear of the head, where they continue down the body. The eyes are large and the pupils are vertically elliptical.

Behaviour and diet

Little is known about this species because it is rather uncommon. It is nocturnal by nature and has been known to feed on small mammals and rodents. They breed at the beginning of the rainy season and are, it is assumed, an egg-laying species.

References

Abyssinian house snake Wikipedia