Mole Snake

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.

Despite its size and sometimes aggressive defensive display, it is non-venomous and kills prey by constriction, posing no venomous threat to humans, though its bite can be strong given its powerful build.

• 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

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.

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 display a dramatic defensive posture, hissing loudly and striking, but it is non-venomous. Females give birth to live young, sometimes producing large litters of over 50 offspring.