Brown House Snake

Common Name: Brown House Snake

Scientific Name: Boaedon capensis

Diet: This species is known to frequent human habitations, feeding on rodents or lizards.

Overview: Most individuals are medium to dark brown with a mother-of-pearl belly and two light lines on either side of the head – one from the nose through the top of the eye to the back of the head and the other from the back of the eye to the angle of the jaw. Like most snakes, there is quite a bit of colour variation and very light brown, as well as brick red individuals, are also encountered.

Reproduction: Brown House Snakes are known to breed once or twice per year but in captivity, this species is known to breed as many as 6 times a year, laying 5–16 eggs every 60 days or so.

Natural Enemies: Larger snakes and birds of prey such as owls, who hunt them when they are out at night.

Conservation Status and Threats: The Brown House Snake is found throughout Southern Africa with other African House Snakes now classified as separate species across the continent.