Cross-barred Snake

Cross-barred Snake

Dipsadoboa aulica

Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Kruger National Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%

18 Verified sightings at Kruger National Park From 2019 to 2026
31 In all 2 parks
January Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Cross-barred Snake

Dipsadoboa aulica, commonly known as the marbled tree snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Africa, and is mildly venomous to humans. D. aulica is found in Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

D. aulica is a slender-bodied snake. Males may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 66 cm (26 in). Females are slightly smaller, growing to 63 cm (25 in) SVL. The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 17 rows at midbody.

D. aulicus, is nocturnal and arboreal, hiding during the day in tree cavities or under bark. D. aulica preys primarily upon tree frogs and geckos, but will also eat toads, skinks, and small rodents. D. aulica, like all species in the genus Dipsadoboa, is oviparous. In midsummer sexually mature females lay 7-8 eggs. The eggs measure on average 25.5 x 11.5 mm (about 1 x 0.5 inch). Hatchlings measure on average 18 cm (about 7 inches) in total length (including tail).

Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
2 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Cross-barred Snake in Kruger National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Cross-barred Snake sighting in Kruger National Park on a given day, based on 18 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 41st most-seen of the 62 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Cross-barred Snake in Kruger National Park?

March–May and October–January

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Cross-barred Snake in Kruger National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February and June–September, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Cross-barred Snake?

Between 7 and 10 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Cross-barred Snake sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.

Is Kruger National Park the best place to see a Cross-barred Snake?

Among the best

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Cross-barred Snake sightings, Kruger National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Cross-barred Snake live in Kruger National Park?

Same family: Colubridae

The closest relatives of the Cross-barred Snake that you can see in Kruger National Park (family Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes) are Boomslang (about 10%), Spotted Bush Snake (about 10%) and Egg-eating Snake (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Cross-barred Snake sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Cross-barred Snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Kruger National Park (18 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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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