Kingdom Animalia Class Reptilia Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Lamprophis aurora | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Lamprophiidae Rank Species | |
Similar Lamprophis, Boaedon capensis, Boaedon, Fisk's house snake, African house snake | ||
Aurora house snake lamprophis aurora
The Aurora house snake, Lamprophis aurora, is a species of snake in the Colubridae family.
Contents
20170302 aurora house snake near gie road table view western cape south africa
Distribution
This species is found in South Africa, the southern Cape Province, from the Cape Peninsula, east and north to Natal, Lesotho, Orange Free State, Gauteng, and Swaziland. It is a terrestrial snake that favours grasslands and forested coastal areas, sometimes in close proximity to people as is suggested by the common name. It is less common than some other species of house snakes and is seldom seen in the pet trade.
General
The snake can achieve a maximum length of 90 cm, but averages 45–60 cm. The immature snake has a distinctive orange-brown stripe running the length of its back, with a dorsal ground colour of olive green, which darkens as it gets older. Is active at night (nocturnal); its diet consists of rodents, lizards, and frogs. The female lays eggs in cluches of eight to 12, with hatchlings averaging 20 cm.