Types of sand snakes

Psammophis is a genus of slim, long-bodied, fast-moving snakes in the family Psammophiidae, a group of mostly African and southwest Asian snakes that includes the sand snakes, beaked snakes, and whip snakes. The name means sand-loving, and that captures the genus well. These are diurnal hunters of warm, dry, open country. Our database lists 30+ species, including the Stripe-bellied Sand Snake, the Karoo Sand Snake, the Cross-marked Sand Snake, and the Forskal Sand Snake.

The genus is centered on sub-Saharan Africa, with species also reaching North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of central and southern Asia. Typical habitat is open and sun-baked: savanna, grassland, semi-desert, scrub, rocky slopes, and the edges of arid country. They are ground snakes at heart, though they move easily through low vegetation. As active foragers rather than ambush hunters, they spend the warm hours of the day on the move and rely heavily on speed and sharp eyesight.

In general terms, sand snakes are recognizable as long, thin, alert snakes with a narrow head only slightly distinct from the neck, large eyes with round pupils, and smooth scales that often give a polished look. Many species carry crisp longitudinal stripes or rows of dashes running the length of the body, which is the source of names like Stripe-bellied and Cross-marked. Coloration tends toward sandy browns, olives, grays, and tans that blend with dry ground. They are among the fastest snakes in their range, and a fleeing sand snake is often just a streak across the path.

Sand snakes are rear-fanged and mildly venomous. They have enlarged grooved teeth toward the back of the upper jaw and a venom suited to subduing small prey. They are not considered dangerous to humans, and bites are uncommon because these snakes flee rather than confront. That said, no wild venomous snake is safe to handle. Do not pick one up. If a bite occurs, or if there is any swelling, unusual pain, or other symptoms, treat it as a medical matter, keep the person calm, and contact emergency care. In the United States call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, and elsewhere contact local emergency services.

Ecologically, Psammophis are agile generalist predators. They feed on lizards, smaller snakes, frogs, rodents, and other small vertebrates, chasing prey down by day and using their mild venom to subdue it. They are egg-layers, producing clutches of eggs rather than live young. A noted behavior in the group is self-rubbing, where a snake wipes secretions from a nasal gland over its own body, which is thought to help with water conservation and skin condition in their dry environments. Combined with their speed and keen vision, these traits make sand snakes well adapted specialists of hot, open landscapes.