Mole Snake
Pseudaspis cana
A large, powerfully built African snake specialized in preying on burrowing rodents.
- Adult length
- 1-1.8 m (3.3-6 ft), occasionally up to 2 m
- Range
- Southern Africa
Found a snake like this?
Identify any snake from a photo, free.
Overview
The Mole Snake is a large, robust colubrid found throughout southern Africa, named for its habit of preying heavily on mole-rats and other burrowing rodents. It is one of the more commonly encountered large snakes in the region, occurring in a wide variety of habitats.
It kills prey by constriction.
How to identify it
- Large, muscular body, one of the bulkier colubrids in the region
- Coloration highly variable: brown, gray, reddish, olive, or occasionally black, sometimes with faint blotching in juveniles
- Small head barely wider than the neck, round pupils
- Smooth scales
- Adult length typically 1-1.8 m (3.3-6 ft), occasionally reaching 2 m
Habitat & range
Occupies a wide range of habitats across southern Africa, including fynbos, grassland, savanna, agricultural land, and semi-desert. Frequently found in and around the burrow systems of mole-rats and other rodents, from which it derives its name.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Diurnal and active, an efficient hunter of burrowing rodents, which it kills by constriction. Also preys on other small mammals, birds, and lizards. When threatened, it can hiss loudly and strike. Females give birth to live young, sometimes producing large litters of over 50 offspring.
Frequently asked questions
What does it eat?
It specializes in mole-rats and other burrowing rodents.
How big does it get?
Adults typically reach 1-1.8 m (3.3-6 ft), occasionally up to 2 m.
Does the Mole Snake lay eggs?
No, it gives birth to live young, sometimes in large litters.
Mole Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Mole Snake.
