Conserving Our Present

Saving Our Future
Snake Identification Slides/Cards
Below are links to snake identification slides/cards for many of the common snakes in Kenya and parts of Tanzania and Uganda. The slides show the common and scientific name of the snake, its main features or characteristics used for identification, an example photo, and its potential for harm to humans. I must stress that there is variability in every snake population, so the photo that is shown is a typical example, and you must recognize that there can be different color variations. If you can take a photo of a snake, and have access to Facebook, I strongly recommend becoming a member of the East African Snakes, Other Reptiles, and Amphibians group as the experts there can help you with identification. For additional information about some of these snakes, you can also access the Kenyan Reptile Atlas at https://www.kenyareptileatlas.com.
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Family Elapidae
Black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)
Eastern green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps)
Jameson's mamba (Dendroaspis jamesoni)
Brown forest cobra (Naja subfulva)
Black-necked spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis)
Ashe's spitting cobra (Naja ashei)
Red spitting cobra (Naja pallida)
East African garter snake (Elapsoidea loveridgei)
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Family Colubridae (venomous)
Twig/vine snake (Thelotornis mossambicus)
Blanding's tree snake (Toxicodryas vexator)
Powdered tree snake (Toxicodryas pulverulenta)
Link-marked sand snake (Psammophis biseriatus)
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Non-venomous or mildly venomous snakes
Central African rock python
Southern African rock python
Northern stripe-bellied sand snake
Merker's worm snake
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Family Viperidae
Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis)
Kenya horned viper (Bitis worthingtoni)
Northeast African carpet viper (Echis pyramidum)
Rhombic night adder (Causus rhombeatus)
Snouted night adder (Causus defilippi)
Velvety green night adder (Causus resimus)
Forest night adder (Causus lichetensteinii)
Kenya montane viper (Montatheris hindii)
Mt Kenya bush viper (Atheris desaixi)
Variable or green bush viper (Atheris squamigera)
Rough-scaled bush viper (Atheris hispida)
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Family Atractaspidae
Bibron's burrowing asp (Atractaspis bibroni)
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Look Alikes
Rhombic Egg Eater vs Rhombic Night Adder
Battersby's Green Snake vs Green Mamba
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