Dasypeltis medici

East African Egg Eater – Dasypeltis medici

Size:
Averaging only 50cm which and may reach 90cm

Colour:
The dorsal is a dusty pinkish/brown typically with a narrow band down running the length of the spine with thin bars breaking up the band. The head and sides of the neck have faint V shape markings.

Habitat:
Favouring costal forest and sand forest.

Field Notes:
The species of egg eater in Southern Africa with the smallest distribution and the least encounter of the three species. The East Africa Egg Eater is found in Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal in coastal forest northwards into Mozambique. A more slender snake than the Southern Brown Egg Eater and adults can reach close to 1m in length.

Like the Common or Rhombic Egg Eater when harassed this snake will coil and uncoil rubbing its scales against one another and strike out viciously. Many of these snakes are killed on roads when they are actively searching for birds nests to raid.