Black File Snake
( dwarf file snake or Nyassa file snake )
- Gracililima nyassae
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Threat: harmless
- Venom/Toxin: none
- Trend: unconfirmed
General Information
The black file snake (Gracililima nyassae) is a species of snake in the subfamily Lamprophiinae of the family Lamprophiidae. The species is endemic to Africa.
Description
G. nyassae is a small snake. The female may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 52 cm. The male is shorter, around 44 cm SVL. Dorsally it is dark brown or purplish brown, with pink skin showing between the scales. Unlike the Common File snake, this snake lacks the light dorsal stripe but has the characteristic triangular body, Ventrally it is black to dark olive (uniform phase), or cream-olive to white (bicolored phase).
Diet
G. nyassae preys on skinks and other lizards.
Reproduction
The black file snake is oviparous. The female may lay as many as six eggs.
Distribtion & Habitat
G. nyassae is found in Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
References
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- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Suborder: Serpentes
- Family: Lamprophiidae
- Genus: Gracililima
