Spotted Bush Snake
Philothamnus semivariegatus
Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyColubridae (Colubrid Snakes)
- GenusPhilothamnus (Green Snakes)
- SpeciesPhilothamnus semivariegatus (Spotted Bush Snake)
About the Spotted Bush Snake
Philothamnus semivariegatus, commonly known as the spotted bush snake is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake, endemic to Africa. P. semivariegatus is distributed from South Africa northward to Sudan, Uganda and from Guinea eastward to Tanzania and sighted in Nigeria.
The colour is bright green with black speckles. Average snout to vent length (SVL) is 60–90 cm (24–35 in). Spotted bush snakes are mostly found in trees in bush and forest areas, where they hunt lizards and treefrogs. They are also known to devour chameleons and dwarfs. They are excellent climbers and swimmers, have very good eyesight, and are highly alert snakes. They are not territorial, and will roam great distances in search for food. Spotted bush snakes are very common and completely harmless. They are well camouflaged, naturally very nervous, and quick to escape from any potential threat. As such, suburban sightings are rare.
They can be very difficult to keep in captivity, being very nervous and reluctant to feed on anything but sympatric gecko species, but they are occasionally kept and bred successfully. Females can... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Spotted Bush Snake in Tsavo East National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Tsavo East National Park
Spotted Green Snake
Philothamnus punctatus
Battersby's Green Snake
Philothamnus battersbyi
Usambara Vine Snake
Thelotornis usambaricus
Boomslang
Dispholidus typus
Eastern Twig Snake
Thelotornis mossambicanus
Red-lipped Snake
Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia
East African Egg Eater
Dasypeltis medici
African Hook-nosed Snake
Scaphiophis albopunctatus
Israeli Catsnake
Telescopus dhara
Common Tiger Snake
Telescopus semiannulatus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.