Cape Wolf Snake

Lycophidion capense

Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassSquamata
FamilyLamprophiidae (Lamprophiid Snakes)
GenusLycophidion (African Wolf Snakes)
SpeciesLycophidion capense (Cape Wolf Snake)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

1 Verified sightings at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park From 2019 to 2026

71 Verified sightings across all 13 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted Active throughout day and night

About the Cape Wolf Snake

The Cape wolf snake (Lycophidion capense) is a species of oviparous, nonvenomous snake which occurs over a wide area of Southern, Central, and East Africa. Though docile and harmless, it may be confused with the very venomous stiletto snake.

The species contains three subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies, L. c. capense: Lycophidion capense capense (A. Smith, 1831) Lycophidion capense jacksoni (Boulenger, 1893) Lycophidion capense loveridgei Laurent, 1968

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Lycophidion. Adults regularly reach 40 cm in length, but some grow to 64 cm. It has a flattened, tapering head and marbled eye. The brown or black lateral and dorsal scales are tipped white, while the ventral scales are all-white. Long recurved fangs are present on the upper as well as lower jaws, for which they are named.

They are widely distributed but prefer damp locations, with lowland forest and fynbos being preferred habitats. They feed mostly on geckos and skinks which they bite and kill by constriction. They are believed to reach... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

Boaedon capensis

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	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	~20%
2	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
3	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
4	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
5	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
6	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
7	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
8	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	Insufficient data
9	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
10	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
11	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
12	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
13	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data

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