Duberria variegata
While visiting the iSimangaliso Wetland Park recently, we came across this tiny snake at the Amazibu Hide between St. Lucia Town and Cape Vidal.
Referring to our copy of the Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa (Bill Branch, Third Edition 1998), Marilize suspected it to be a Variegated or Spotted Slug Eater, an identification confirmed with the assistance of the helpful people at the SA Reptiles Forum.
These snakes are endemic to a very small piece of South Africa’s north-eastern and Mozambique’s southern coastline, occurring in dune forests and grasslands (habitat in abundance at iSimangaliso). It burrows in leaf litter and sandy substrates and, as its name suggests, feeds on slugs and snails. Females give birth to between 7 and 20 live young, about 10cm in length, in late summer, which would mean the 12cm-long specimen we encountered was still quite young (Adults grow to between 22cm and 34cm).
Just goes to show that no matter how much time you spend in natural environments, there’s always something new to discover and interesting to learn!
DeWetsWild 
Ek moet ‘n paar hier kry om die slakke te vreet!! Dink net… slange in Ierland!! Lekker!! 😉
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Is daar nie een of ander legende oor slange in Ierland nie?
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That guy is OK in my book if he eats slugs and leeches! 😃
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Our thoughts exactly! It’s mostly illegal to catch, move and keep our indigenous reptiles, but if a slug eater was to make its own way to our little patch of Pretoria he’ll be very welcome to stay!
Just as welcome as you are here at de Wets Wild, Ilex!
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Om iets heeltemal raar en nuuts te sien,is altyd opwindend!Julle was baie gelukkig,Dries.Dankie vir die deel.
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Dankie vir die saam kuier Dina!
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Thank you so much for always sharing your discoveries!
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We appreciate you sharing in our interests Amy!
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Inyeressant maar hy moet maar die slakkies in my tuin los.
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Ek wens nou weer ek kon so enetjie vir ons tuin kry om die slakke uit te sorteer!
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Ek sal hom na jou toe stuur as hy hier opduik
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Ek sal dit baie waardeer, dankie Tina! Hy moet net sy fauna-en-flora permit ook saambring!
😀
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nee sjoe ek sal nie eers wag om te vra nie
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What a fantastic find. Good you are sharing information about snakes from a positive point of view. I think they are a misunderstood and under appreciated group of animals.
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Absolutely agreed Jane! They’re fascinating animals and so well adapted to their environment. Over the year’s we’ve had some hair-raising experiences with some of South Africa’s (and the world’s) deadliest snakes and luckily we and them got away unscathed in all cases. This little guy poses no threat at all, unless you’re a slug…
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The venomous snakes certainly do warrant a lot of respect; I’m grateful you know how to visit nature under her terms. Love your sense of humor. 🙂 Have a wonderful week-
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Dis nou te oulik. Baie interessant. Dis so wonderlik om sulke klein dingetjies te belewe as jy jou oë oophou. Die slangetjie laat my nogal aan n lekker fris erdwurm dink. Jul was beslis bevoorreg om so n slangetjie te sien en dan og fotos te neem ook. Dankie vir die deel!
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Dis hoe ons ook voel Ineke. n Paar uur tevore het ons seekoeie en krokodille bekyk, en dan n kans om bietjie van naby iets kleins en ongewoons, wat ons nog nooit gesien het, te waardeer. Die wondere van die natuur ne.
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Maak mens dankbaar en laat mens klein voel teen die natuur!
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A slug eater… that’s an interesting diet. 🙂 Such fun to find wonders in nature.
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I think we can’t even begin to fathom everything there is to know about the world around us! I’m just grateful a tiny window opens for us every now and then.
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