Common Mole Snake

The Common Mole Snake is a large, muscular snake found throughout much of southern Africa, well known for its habit of pursuing rodents into their own burrows. It is one of the more frequently encountered large snakes in the region, including in agricultural and suburban areas.

It is entirely non-venomous, subduing prey through powerful constriction rather than venom, though it can deliver a forceful, painful bite in self-defense.

• Heavily built, muscular body with a relatively small, narrow head
• Coloration highly variable, ranging from uniform brown, gray, or reddish to blackish, often with juveniles showing more mottled patterning that fades with age
• Smooth scales and round pupils
• Robust, cylindrical body well suited for pushing through burrows
• One of the larger snakes in southern Africa

Its robust build, small head relative to body size, and highly variable but usually plain adult coloration distinguish it from other large southern African snakes.

Occupies a very wide range of habitats, including grassland, fynbos, savanna, semi-desert, and agricultural land, largely tracking the distribution of its rodent prey.

Its range covers much of southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

Primarily diurnal, though it may also be active at dusk. It is a specialized rodent hunter, often pursuing prey directly into burrows and subduing them with constriction, which makes it a natural check on rodent populations.

Unlike most colubrid-type snakes, it is viviparous, giving birth to live young rather than laying eggs, with litters that can be quite large.