Points

40

per confirmed sighting

ReptileConservation status: Least ConcernVery Rare to spot
reptiles • Colubridae

Green Water Snake.

G

Philothamnus hoplogaster

Category

reptiles

Family

Colubridae

Size

Adults average about 25–40 cm and may reach about 1 m.

Points

40 pts

Log a sighting

A closer look

Field notes for spotting, identifying and understanding green water snake in its natural range.

Overview

How to identify it

Habitat

Damp reed swamps, riverine thickets and floodplains.

Diet

Mainly frogs, with fish, small lizards and juvenile grasshoppers also recorded.

Behaviour

When to look

Diurnal.

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.