Red-lipped Snake

Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia

Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassSquamata
FamilyColubridae (Colubrid Snakes)
GenusCrotaphopeltis (Herald Snakes)
SpeciesCrotaphopeltis hotamboeia (Red-lipped Snake)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Akagera National Park

1 Verified sightings at Akagera National Park From 2019 to 2026

305 Verified sightings across all 24 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Red-lipped Snake

Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia, commonly known as the herald snake or the red-lipped snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia can be identified by its olive green or grey body, multiple white speckles, distinctive black head, and red, yellow, white, or black upper lip. It can grow to an average total length (including tail) of 70 cm (28 in), but may reach up to 1 metre (39 inches) in total length.

It is mildly venomous and poses no threat to humans or domestic animals, according to the African Snakebite Institute. C. hotamboeia feeds on amphibians (including rain frogs), lizards, and other snakes (only in captivity). The red-lipped snake has been known to live for between 10 and 15 years. Adult females of C. hotamboeia lay between 6 and 19 eggs in early summer.

Endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa, the herald snake is present in Zambia, throughout South Africa (except for the Karoo and Northern Cape) as well as Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, southern and central Mozambique, and northern Botswana.

The herald... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Akagera National Park

Philothamnus semivariegatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
2	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
3	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
4	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
5	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
6	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
7	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	Insufficient data
8	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	Insufficient data
9	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
10	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
11	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
12	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
13	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
14	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
15	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
16	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
17	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
18	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
19	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
20	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
21	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
22	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
23	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
24	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data

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