Reptiles
The Reptiles snakes and lizards, are as much a part of the animal life of the Palmiet Nature Reserve as are the mammals and birds. The snakes may have taken on the role of the main predators, effecting a control on small mammals, birds, toads and frogs, where other more usual predators do not occur.
Because of their quiet secretive ways, their extraordinary ability to conceal themselves and to remain motionless for long periods snakes are seldom seen. Contact is thus sudden unexpected and at close quarters. For most humans this is an alarming experience but by remaining still the danger of being bitten is greatly minimised.Venomous snakes are more interested in escaping than defending themselves. Snakes are wild creatures and as such their strong sense of self preservation demands that they flee from the presence of danger. If obstructed they are forced to attack..
A number of lizards also occur in the area. The commonest being Skinks (Mabuya), Plated lizards (Gerrhosarus) and Geckos. Two types of chameleon also occur. The large Flap-necked Chameleon and the small brown or grey Dwarf Chameleon which bears living young.
The black and yellow water leguaan (Nile Monitor) and the Rock Monitor are also common in the reserve
Life and death in the Palmiet. A Vine or Twig snake(thelotornis capensis) attacks a Flap- neck Chameleon.(Chamaeleo dilepis)This entire process took almost forty minutes. The Chameleon did not appear to be affected by the Vine Snake's venom and clung on for dear life until the last leg was swallowed. The snake would drop its body to try and dislodge the chameleon and then hung down to swallow its meal. Flap-neck chameleons are also preyed upon by monkeys and crowned hornbills.They lay up to 57 eggs in the ground during spring. The eggs take up to 5 months to hatch.
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List of Snakes
for the Palmiet Reserve ( V= Venomous )
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| Adder Burrowing | . | |
| Adder Puff |
V
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Bitis arietans |
| Adder Rhombic Night |
V
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Causus rhombeatus |
| Blind Snake Bibrons |
.
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Typhiops bibronii |
| Boomslang |
V
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Dispholidus typus |
| Brown House Snake | Lamprophis capensis | |
| Bush Snake Green Natal |
.
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Philothamnus semivariegatus |
| Black headed Centipede Eater | Aparallactus capensis | |
| Bush Snake Spotted |
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Philothamnus natalensis |
| Cape File Snake |
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|
. |
| Common Wolf Snake | Lycophidon capense | |
| Mozambique Spitting Cobra |
V
|
. Naja mossambica |
| Egg Eating Snake Brown |
.
|
. |
| Green Water Snake | Philothamus hoplogaster | |
| Grass Snake Olive |
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|
. |
| Herald Snake |
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|
. |
| House Snake Brown |
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Lamprophis fuliginosus |
| House Snake Olive |
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Lamprophis inortus |
| Mamba Black |
V
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Dendroaspis polylepis |
| Natal Green Snake | Philothamnus natalensis | |
| Natal Black Snake |
V
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Macrelaps |
| Peters'Thread/Worm Snake | Leptotyphlops scutifrons | |
| Red Lipped Herald | Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia | |
| Python African Rock |
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Python sebae |
| Spotted Bush Snake | Philothamnus semivariegatus | |
| Vine or Twig Snake |
V
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Thelotornis capensis |
Common or Rhombic Night Adder (Causus rhombeatus) The Common or Rhombic Night Adder is a nocturnal snake but despite it's name is usually seen throughout the day especially in the morning and late afternoon. It feeds on frogs and toads. They are mildly venomous. They have a Cytotoxic venom which causes swelling and occasionally necrosis. It may also cause acute discomfort. Antivenom is effective but generally not required. Bites should not be treated lightly and seek medical attention. However they will move off if given the chance. If cornered it will inflate it's body with air, coil up, and hiss aggressively, striking violently at the same time. It is terrestrial and slow moving. often found in damp environments, moist savanna, lowland forest and fynbos. Their length averages between 30-60cm with a maximum of about 1m. They are generally larger in KZN. Nick Evans 
Water Monitors are terrestrial, semi-aquatic lizards that are normally found near rivers, dams, and streams. They are diurnal and spend most of their day hunting or basking. They are most often seen basking on riverbanks or large rocks next to rivers. If disturbed they will launch themselves into the water. They will not attack humans although if cornered they will lash out with there tail and if you try to grab it, it will bite, but they are generally not aggressive. They feed on anything they can overpower such as crabs, frogs, snakes, lizards, invertebrates, eggs, small mammals including mongoose and dassies, and birds. Their colouration is bright yellow and black patterns when they are young. When they grow older the bright colours usually fade away. Their length averages 1 to 1 and a half meters but can get to 2 meters. Nick Evans 
Palmiet
Nature Reserve
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For More Reptile Info go to
http://www.reptilepets.co.za .
