FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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A Pseudaspis cana or a mole snake is a muscular snake species of the Pseudaspididae family that is the monotype of the genus Pseudaspis. Mole snakes are found in abundance throughout most of South Africa. The distribution of the species of P. cana (mole snakes) also extends to some protected areas and national parks of South Africa like the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. However, recent developments and deforestation have snatched a major part of their habitat. As a result, although they are not threatened currently, they have still been recognized by wildlife protection sites. The P. cana is encountered commonly in sandy areas. This snake is found in underground burrows in large numbers. Sometimes they also inhabit empty rodent burrows and any other burrow where the availability of moles is abundant. Their physical adaptations help them to glide through the underground soil easily. The honey badger is a famous predator of mole snakes and its traces have been found in the faeces of the animal. Keep on reading these amazing facts to know more about these Pseudaspis specimens of Africa.
For similar content check out Burmese python facts and eastern diamondback rattlesnake facts facts too,
Pseudaspis cana (mole snake) is a type of nonvenomous snake.
Mole snakes of the Squamata order belong to the class Reptilia, the common class consisting of all reptiles of the world.
The distribution of mole snakes is common throughout their range in Africa. The abundant visibility of snake specimens in South Africa indicates that the mole snake population has been stable throughout its range. However, the total population of the mole snake species has not been determined.
Mole snakes inhabit the entire range of the forests in the Southern parts of Africa. Their distribution widely stretches from Angola in the north to the southern tip of Cape town in the South. Some other South African countries that are included in the range of this species are Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique, Burundi, Malawi, and Zaire. The eastern most range for this snake extends to Kenya. Some snakes might also be found in captivity.
Mole snakes can easily adapt to a large range of habitats. This specimen is found inhabiting the scrublands and grasslands in the Cape Town region as well as in the Highveld Plateau. Apart from that, they can also occur in arid deserts and even mountain ranges.
Snakes are generally solitary animals. Mole snakes live inside the burrows of their prey. They live in solitude except during the mating season. Other than that they might become aggressive at the sight of any intruder.
The captive lifespan of Pseudaspis cana, mole snakes, differs widely from the lifespan of the species in the wild. In the wild, they can live around eight years of age while in captivity, they have been recorded to live for 20 years.
The P. cana species of snake follow viviparous reproduction, that is the embryo of the juveniles develops within the adult body. The peak mating season of this snake is the end of the spring season in October. The female gives birth to a litter of 25-50 juveniles. However, a maximum of 95 young individuals has been recorded in this species. In a captive experiment, it was noticed that the gestation period lasts for a span of 180 days approximately.
The conservation status of the species of Pseudaspis cana or the mole snakes has not been determined. They are Not Listed in the IUCN Red List. The distribution of this snake is fairly common throughout other African countries.
The mole snake is sleek and slender but still a muscular species with a tubular body. Their head is small and ends in an elongated and pointed snout in the front. The body of adult mole snakes is monocolored. Their body color varies between gray, yellow, black, and brown. The juvenile mole snake has bright colored markings. The young show various shades of brown with pattern markings of black or brown spots and bands. The males and females do not show much sexual dimorphism.
The appearance of mole snakes matches the description of any other normal snake. This snake has no unique feature that makes its appearance extraordinary and the measure of its cuteness is subjective to different individuals.
Snakes mainly communicate by secreting chemical substances. They do not have ears so they communicate by analyzing vibrations and scents.
The average length of mole snakes is 6.6 ft (2 m). They are more or less longer than the mole king snake.
The speed of these sluggish snakes has not been quantified yet.
In captivity, it was measured that a mole snake weighed around 7 oz (200 g).
The males and females do not have any specific names. They are called mole snakes.
The baby of a snake is called a snakelet.
Moles are the primary food of the snake. Apart from that they also feed on small mammals, rodents, lizards, and eggs of birds. The young ones feed on stream frogs.
No, this snake does not possess venom however due to their sharp teeth, a mole snake bite can be very painful. These snake bites might even require stitches to repair.
This snake is quite a ferocious one. Although they do not possess any poison, their bites can cause severe pain. When they bite, they move their head up and down for a stronger grip of their knife-like teeth that creates deep wounds. However, many individuals are found in captivity under professionals.
When mole snakes shed their skin, they loosen the skin around its head first, at the beginning of molting.
Moles form the primary food source of the species Pseudaspis cana. The snake gets its name based on its primary diet and therefore is referred to as the mole snake.
The mole and the mole king snake are both nonvenomous snakes that spend their day mostly in underground burrows. However, the former one is generally much longer in size than the mole king snake. They are also found to occur in different regions of the world. The mole snake specimens inhabit the countries of South Africa while the mole king snakes are distributed throughout the Mid-Atlantic States.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other reptiles including Timber rattlesnake facts, or cat snake facts.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable mole snake coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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