Department of Vertebrates
Herpetology Collection
EASTERN TIGER SNAKES (Telescopus semiannulatus semiannulatus)
This is a very colourful snake and may be mistaken for a coral snake at quick glens; they differ from the coral snakes having back bands that do not encircle the body like with the coral snakes. The head is very distinct from the neck and the eyes have a bulbous effect like with Lamprohis. They are a sandy to orange colour with 22 to 52 black band-like rings that stop halve way around the body.
A large specimen have been measured at 760 mm but they average a length of 60 to 75 cm. There distribution ranges from Kenya and Zaire down towards southern Natal, Transvaal and the northern Cape. In the summer the female lays 6 to 17 elongated eggs and the hatchlings measure between 170-230 mm.
The venom is of no consequence to humans but they will strike readily when provoked.