Abyssinian house snake

Abyssinian house snake
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Boodontinae
Genus: Lamprophis
Species: L. abyssinicus
Binomial name
Lamprophis abyssinicus
Mocquard, 1906

The Abyssinian house snake, Lamprophis abyssinicus, is a small colubrid snake in the genus Lamprophis. It was once thought to be endemic to Ethiopia, but has been found in Eritrea recently.

Appearance

This is a small snake, attaining lengths of 20-24 in. They are sexually dimorphic, as the females grow larger than the males. The overall colour is a tan brown through orange to red, with large, deep-brown or black stripes running from the rostral scale through the eye to the rear of the head, where they continue down the body. The eyes are large and the pupils are vertically elliptical.

Behaviour and diet

Little is known about this species because it is rather uncommon. It is nocturnal by nature and has been known to feed on small mammals and rodents. They breed at the beginning of the rainy season and are, it is assumed, an egg-laying species.


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