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HI all
Can anyone tell what snake this is.I saw it in the Cathedral Peak area On the weekend 6-7 march? This image is hidden for guests. Please log in or register to see it.

I'm fairly certain its a Yellow Bellied Sand Snake (Psammophis s. subtaeniatus) which I understand is only mildly venomous

i reckon you are right, jonwells0802 (i bow to your impressive herp id skills there, getting it down to sp level!). thought it was a striped skaapsteker myself, but the lighter stripes seem to be too thin.

psammophis have been known to cause a fair amount of swelling and discomfort, definitely enough to take the gloss off a hike. but they are snakes that really hate sticking around to have a chat, had them shoot over my boots or through my legs on several occasions and disappear in no time into the grass.

never heard of anyone getting bitten who wasn't handling it or trying to catch it. so if you get bitten by one you were asking for it

Have also encountered them and thought they were Skaapstekers too, though never been confident of their exact identity. They're fairly big and move lightning fast.

I haven't really encountered many snakes in the berg, but I'm pretty sure I'll do sometime.

Which snakes are there in the berg?

Any comments or suggestions on anti venom or other precautions to take for snakes?

Which "snake books" are good to read for info about snakes in the berg?

thanks

Jacques

JacquesBuys wrote:
Apparently around 25 species. The ones to worry about are Rinkhals, Puff Adder, Berg Adder and Cape Cobra. There are also Night Adders, Skaapstekers, Sundeval’s Garter Snakes, Spotted Harlequin Snakes, Egg Eaters, Mole Snakes, Brown Water Snakes (I'm not that clued up on snakes, I just read).

Advice around this changes as research and experience unveils more and more. Anti-venom, tourniquets and venom suckers tends to do more harm than good, largely due to lack of knowledge and training. Some ideas are explored in this thread: www.vertical-endeavour.com/forums/8-drakensberg-hiking/681-revisiting-the-ian-miller-incident.html. Compare with: www.berg.co.za/snakes.htm

The one I'm most familiar with, which seems systematic and comprehensive for the layman, is:
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There is also:
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There are also some older classics by FitzSimmons.

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