Short-snouted Whip Snake

Short-snouted Whip Snake

Psammophis brevirostris

Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Pretoria

In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%

9 Verified sightings at Pretoria
December Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Short-snouted Whip Snake

Psammophis brevirostris, also known as the short-snouted grass snake, is a diurnal, mildly venomous snake native to southern Africa. It is oviparous and can lay up to 15 eggs in summer. The snake feeds on lizards, rodents, snakes and small birds; it is alert and considered fast. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Pretoria 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
2 Johannesburg 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Hartbeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park 🇿🇦 South Africa In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Short-snouted Whip Snake in Pretoria?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Short-snouted Whip Snake sighting in Pretoria on a given day, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 17th most-seen of the 20 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Short-snouted Whip Snake in Pretoria?

November and December

In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Short-snouted Whip Snake in Pretoria on a given day, against under 5% in January–March and July–October, the lowest months. Those are among Pretoria's wettest months, with about 110 mm of rain a month against almost none in July.

What time of day is best to see a Short-snouted Whip Snake?

Between 1 and 4 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Short-snouted Whip Snake sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Pretoria the best place to see a Short-snouted Whip Snake?

Yes

Of the 2 cities where we can rate Short-snouted Whip Snake sightings, Pretoria has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Johannesburg (South Africa, about 10%).

Where does the Short-snouted Whip Snake sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Short-snouted Whip Snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Pretoria (9 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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