Southern Vine Snake (Thelotornis capensis capensis) Eating Striped Skink (Trachylepis striata)

Photographer: Marc Horsfield
Sunject: Vine Snake eating Striped Skink
Date: 30 May 2009
Location: Zuka Game Reserve (Phinda)

Comment by Johan Marais: This is a great set of photographs of a Southern Twig Snake (Thelotornis capensis capensis) eating a Striped Skink (Trachylepis capensis). The Twig Snake is also known as a Vine Snake or Bird Snake but research has shown that this snake very seldom eats birds, preferring lizards and snakes. Like the Boomslang it is a highly venomous back-fanged snake with a haemotoxic venom and at present there is no antivenom for this species. Fortunately the Twig Snake is extremely docile, expertly camouflaged and very seldom attempts to bite, even if you had to walk right past one. If aggravated, it inflates in neck exposing the bright colour between the scales and will then strike repeatedly. It is a peculiar snake with a keyhole-shaped eye and a bright orange to red tongue.

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