Vital Statistics

Name

Brown House Snake [Lamprophis capensis]

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Colubridae

Subspecies

The African House Snakes have been classified into 7 separate species across the continent

Length_F

783 mm

Length_M

656 mm

Description

A large house snake with an obvious head and small body scales. It is uniform red-brown in colour. Large, old snakes are darker, almost black. There are 2 pale yellow streaks on the side of the head.

Distribution

The Brown House Snake is found throughout southern Africa with other African House Snakes now classified as separate species across the continent.

Breeding

Up to 16 eggs are laid in summer, and these take 60 - 90 days to develop. Hatchlings measure 190 - 260 mm.