Points

40

per confirmed sighting

ReptileConservation status: Least ConcernVery Rare to spot
reptiles • Atractaspididae

Common Purple-Glossed Snake.

C

Amblyodipsas polylepis

Category

reptiles

Family

Atractaspididae

Size

Adults average about 60 cm and may exceed 1 m.

Points

40 pts

Log a sighting

A closer look

Field notes for spotting, identifying and understanding common purple-glossed snake in its natural range.

Overview

How to identify it

Habitat

Fossorial, spending most of its time underground; it is often encountered after heavy rain or excavation. The checked African Snakebite Institute species account does not provide a complete species-level habitat profile; no broader habitat preference is inferred from related taxa.

Diet

The checked African Snakebite Institute species account does not state a species-level prey list; no diet is inferred from related taxa.

Behaviour

When to look

Primarily fossorial; surface activity is associated with heavy rain and sometimes overcast conditions rather than a resolved diel schedule.

Where to see it

South Africa flagSouth AfricaNamibia flagNamibiaBotswana flagBotswanaZimbabwe flagZimbabweZambia flagZambiaMozambique flagMozambiqueEswatini flagEswatiniMalawi flagMalawiAngola flagAngola

Safety and etiquette

Observe from a safe distance and never handle or feed wildlife.

Verification and sources

1500 verified species across ten Southern African countries. Spotted an error? Tell us through community guidelines.