Reptiles · Squamata · Lamprophiidae

Striped Sand Snake

Psammophis sibilans

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The striped sand snake is a slender, extremely fast colubrid of the African savannahs, among the swiftest on the continent. It hunts by day, actively, chasing lizards and rodents rather than waiting for them. It has a singular habit: it rubs its snout against its own body, spreading a nasal secretion that appears to reduce water loss.

Size

90 cm – 1.8 m

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaDesertGrasslandCarnivore Diurnal Solitary Reptile Savanna Desert Grassland

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Fun facts

It gives itself a massage with a nasal secretion: it rubs its snout against its own body, spreading a fluid from the nasal glands across all its scales, a behaviour that has been linked to waterproofing the skin in order to reduce water loss.
It is one of the fastest snakes in Africa: it hunts by actively chasing its prey in broad daylight, rather than lying in wait as most do.
It has its fangs at the back of the mouth and a mild venom that serves to subdue lizards and rodents, but that is harmless to people.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Savannah, dry scrub, farmland and wetland margins of northern and eastern Africa
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 60 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 12 eggs

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/