Kingdom Animalia Class Reptilia Family Colubridae Scientific name Dipsina multimaculata Rank Genus | Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Subfamily Psammophiinae Phylum Chordata Order Scaled reptiles | |
Similar Rhamphiophis, Mimophis, Psammophylax, Gonionotophis, Compsophis | ||
Dwarf beaked snake
The dwarf beaked snake (Dipsina multimaculata), also called the western beaked snake, is a species of colubrid snake, which is endemic to southern Africa. It is in the monotypic genus Dipsina.
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Geographic range
It is found in southwestern Botswana, Namibia, and western and central South Africa.
Description
Dipsina multimaculata is a small snake with a distinct, pointed snout. Adults may attain a total length of 40 cm (15.8 inches), including a 4.5-cm (1.8-in) tail.
It is pale buff or sandy gray dorsally, with three or five series of regular brown spots. The spots in the vertebral series are broader than long. A V-shaped brown mark is found on the back part of the head, with a diagonal brown streak from behind the eye towards the corner of the mouth. Ventrally, it is whitish.
The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 17 rows. Ventrals number 155-168 in females, the anal plate is divided, and the subcaudals are divided (paired) into 31-40 in females.