It has unique patterning on its body, which is not easily confused with other southern African snakes. Spotted house snakes are small and slender, with the average length of 40–60 cm (16–24 in), and a maximum length of 65 cm (26 in). The body is cream white to light brown, with round spots, which are dark brown. Sometimes, the spots are connected. The eyes are medium-sized and copper brown, with vertical pupils. The head is very flat and broad, which is probably an adaptation for accessing narrow rock crevices.
Scale countedit
Midbody scale rows range from 21 to 25, the anal shield is entire, and the subcaudals (46–72) are paired. There are between 186 and 230 ventral scales, the ventral and dorsal scales are smooth and highly polished.
Biologyedit
Spotted house snakes are habitat specialists, occurring in rocky areas, often hiding under exfoliating rock flakes or between narrow crevices. They are nocturnal and hunt for crevice-living lizards. In captivity, they are known to take small rodents, as well.
Spotted house snake (in crevice) feeding on a Waterberg girdled lizard
Reproductionedit
Small clutches of between three and six eggs are laid in summer. Eggs measure 38 by 20 mm (1.50 by 0.79 in).
Distributionedit
The spotted house snake is widespread in the eastern parts of South Africa. The distribution also extends up the West Coast into Namibia.
spotted, house, snake, spotted, house, snake, alopecion, guttatum, belongs, monotypic, genus, alopecion, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclass, reptiliaorder, squamatasuborde. The spotted house snake Alopecion guttatum belongs to the monotypic genus Alopecion Spotted house snakeConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily LamprophiidaeGenus AlopecionDumeril 1853Species A guttatumBinomial nameAlopecion guttatum Smith 1843 SynonymsLycodon guttatus Alopecion annulifer Boodon guttatus Contents 1 Description 2 Scale count 3 Biology 4 Reproduction 5 Distribution 6 ReferencesDescription editIt has unique patterning on its body which is not easily confused with other southern African snakes Spotted house snakes are small and slender with the average length of 40 60 cm 16 24 in and a maximum length of 65 cm 26 in The body is cream white to light brown with round spots which are dark brown Sometimes the spots are connected The eyes are medium sized and copper brown with vertical pupils The head is very flat and broad which is probably an adaptation for accessing narrow rock crevices Scale count editMidbody scale rows range from 21 to 25 the anal shield is entire and the subcaudals 46 72 are paired There are between 186 and 230 ventral scales the ventral and dorsal scales are smooth and highly polished Biology editSpotted house snakes are habitat specialists occurring in rocky areas often hiding under exfoliating rock flakes or between narrow crevices They are nocturnal and hunt for crevice living lizards In captivity they are known to take small rodents as well nbsp Spotted house snake in crevice feeding on a Waterberg girdled lizardReproduction editSmall clutches of between three and six eggs are laid in summer Eggs measure 38 by 20 mm 1 50 by 0 79 in Distribution editThe spotted house snake is widespread in the eastern parts of South Africa The distribution also extends up the West Coast into Namibia References edit Maritz B 2022 Lamprophis guttatus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022 e T21583954A197414342 Retrieved 2 January 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spotted house snake amp oldid 1131406756, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
