Amplorhinus

Amplorhinus is a small genus in the family Pseudoxyrhophiidae, a group of mostly small to medium-sized snakes centered on Madagascar but with a handful of African mainland representatives. The genus is best known from the Cape reed snake (Amplorhinus multimaculatus), a slim, alert snake of southern and eastern Africa. It is one of the few members of this largely Malagasy family found on continental Africa, which makes it a useful example of how the family spread beyond Madagascar.

These are slender, smooth-scaled snakes that favor damp habitats. The Cape reed snake lives in marshes, reed beds, vleis, and moist grassland and fynbos, often near water, and is a capable climber through low vegetation. Coloration is variable, typically olive to brown or greenish along the back, frequently with rows of small dark spots and a pale lateral line, which helps it blend into grass and reeds. Adults are modest in length, generally well under a meter. It is active by day and feeds on small prey such as lizards, frogs, and occasionally small rodents.

Like many pseudoxyrhophiids, the Cape reed snake is rear-fanged, meaning it has enlarged grooved teeth at the back of the upper jaw and a mild venom that helps subdue small animals. For humans it is considered harmless, and bites, which are uncommon, produce at most minor local effects. Even so, no wild snake should be picked up or handled, since identification mistakes are easy and any bite can be unpleasant. If a bite occurs and symptoms develop, do not rely on field treatment; contact emergency services or, in the United States, Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. This species also gives live birth rather than laying eggs, a trait shared with several relatives in the family.