Common Purple-glossed Snake
Amblyodipsas polylepis
A glossy, burrowing African snake with an iridescent purplish sheen, feeding largely on other snakes and reptiles beneath the soil surface.
- Venomous?
- Mildly venomous
- Adult length
- 0.5-1.0 m (1.5-3.3 ft)
- Range
- Southern and East Africa
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Overview
The Common Purple-glossed Snake is a fossorial species found across parts of southern and East Africa, named for the distinctive purplish iridescent sheen of its smooth scales. It spends most of its life underground or beneath surface cover.
It possesses a mild venom delivered from rear fangs, primarily used to subdue reptilian prey, and it is not considered dangerous to humans.
How to identify it
- Smooth, glossy body with a distinctive purplish or bluish iridescent sheen, especially visible in good light
- Uniform dark brown to blackish base coloration
- Small head barely distinct from the neck, adapted for burrowing
- Small eyes with round pupils
- Cylindrical, moderately elongated body
Its glossy purplish sheen and burrowing habits distinguish it from most other similarly colored fossorial snakes, which typically lack such iridescence.
Habitat & range
Found in sandy soils, savanna, and coastal bush across southern and East Africa, favoring loose substrates suitable for burrowing.
Its range includes South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, and neighboring countries, typically in lowland and coastal habitats.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Fossorial and nocturnal, rarely encountered above ground except after rain or during nocturnal foraging. It preys largely on other reptiles, particularly other snakes and legless skinks, subduing them with its mild rear-fanged venom.
It is oviparous, laying small clutches of eggs within moist underground burrows or leaf litter.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Common Purple-glossed Snake venomous?
It is mildly venomous with rear fangs, but it is not dangerous to humans.
How big does the Common Purple-glossed Snake get?
It typically reaches 0.5-1.0 m (1.5-3.3 ft).
Where is the Common Purple-glossed Snake found?
It occurs in southern and East Africa, including South Africa, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
What does the Common Purple-glossed Snake eat?
It preys mainly on other reptiles, especially snakes and legless skinks.
Common Purple-glossed Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Common Purple-glossed Snake.
