Transvaal Quillsnout Snake

About the Transvaal Quillsnout Snake

Common names: Transvaal quill-snouted snake, Speckled quill-snouted snake Xenocalamus transvaalensis is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. The species is endemic to Africa. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

X. transvaalensis is found in Botswana, southern Mozambique, Republic of South Africa (former Northern Transvaal and former Zululand), and Zimbabwe. X. transvaalensis is black dorsally, and white ventrally. Males may attain a total length (including tail) of 37 cm (14+1⁄2 in); females, 31.5 cm (12+3⁄8 in).

In summer an adult female X. transvaalensis may lay two elongated eggs, 28 mm x 6 mm (1 1/16 in x 3/16 in). Methuen PA (1919). "Descriptions of a new snake from the Transvaal, together with a new diagnosis and key of the genus Xenocalamus, and of some Batrachia from Madagascar". Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1919: 349–355. (Xenocalamus transvaalensis, new species).

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