86 



THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



I. PsEUDAspis Cana. Mole Snake; Zwart Slang; Lui Slang ; Molslang. 



Synonyms — Coluber cane ; Coronella cana ; Coronella phocarum ; 

 Duberria cana ; Cadmus cuneiformis. 



Colour — The young are pale brown above, with dark brown white- 

 edged spots forming four longitudinal series ; sometimes a 

 darker vertebral line ; lower parts yellowish or purplish brown, 

 uniform or spotted with black. 



Fig. 38. — Head and neck of the harmless Mole Snake {Psemlaspis cana). 



Adults are very variable in colour, brown or reddish, with 



more or less distinct spots ; often uniform dark brown or shiny 



black. 

 Average length — 4 feet. These snakes sometimes attain a length of 



over 7 feet. 

 Distribution — All over South Africa ; North to Angola and British East 



Africa. 



Genus CHLOROPHIS. 



Four Species in South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Ventrals without keels. Two labials entering the 



eye ; sub-caudals 85-107 Chlorophis hoplogaster. 



Ventrals with distinct lateral keels. Two labials 



entermg the eye ; a single anterior temporal ; 



sub-caudals 77-114 Chlorophis neglectus. 



