Snakes of Africa

species of reptile

Mambas are fast-moving, highly venomous snakes of the genus Dendroaspis (which literally means "tree asp") in the family Elapidae. Four extant species are recognized currently; three of those four species are essentially arboreal and green in colour, whereas the black mamba, Dendroaspis polylepis, is largely terrestrial and generally brown or grey in colour. All are native to various regions in sub-Saharan Africa and all are feared throughout their ranges, especially the black mamba. In Africa there are many legends and stories about mambas.

species of constricting snake

species of snake

snake species

species of reptile

species of reptile

The boomslang ( or ; Dispholidus typus) is a highly venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Sub-Saharan Africa.

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

Bitis is a genus of vipers found in Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula. It includes the largest and the smallest vipers in the world. Members are known for their characteristic threat displays that involve inflating and deflating their bodies while hissing and puffing loudly. The type species for this genus is B. arietans, which is also the most widely distributed viper in Africa. Currently, 18 species are recognized.

The rinkhals (; Hemachatus haemachatus), also known as the ringhals or ring-necked spitting cobra, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is found in parts of southern Africa. It is not a true cobra in that it does not belong to the genus Naja, but instead belongs to the monotypic genus Hemachatus. While rinkhals bear a great resemblance to true cobras, they also possess some remarkable differences from these, resulting in their placement outside the genus Naja. In 2023, the Zimbabwe population was described as a new species, H. nyangensis.

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

Aspidelaps is a genus of venomous elapid snakes endemic to Africa. Species in the genus Aspidelaps are commonly called shield-nosed cobras, African coral snakes or coral cobras after their cobra hoods and enlarged rostral (nose) scales. However, the hood is not nearly as well developed in Aspidelaps as it is in the true cobras of the genus Naja.

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

Malpolon is a genus of snakes, containing the following species: Malpolon insignitus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827) – eastern Montpellier snake Malpolon moilensis (Reuss, 1834) – False cobra Malpolon monspessulanus (Hermann, 1804) – Montpellier snake

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of cobra

species of reptile

species of reptile

Elapsoidea is a genus of venomous snakes, commonly known as African garter snakes, in the family Elapidae. Despite their common names, they are unrelated to the harmless North American garter snakes of the genus Thamnophis.

species of reptile

species of reptile

Philothamnus is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa.

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

snake species

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile

Amblyodipsas is a genus of snakes found in Africa. Currently, 9 species are recognized. These snakes are often known as purple-glossed snakes or glossy snakes. Although rear-fanged, all species are considered harmless, but their venom has not been well studied. They should not be confused with the glossy snakes of the genus Arizona, which are found in North America.

species of reptile

Crotaphopeltis is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa.

species of reptile

species of reptile

species of reptile