Identification of African Snake

[nickpaton]

Hi
First post and great to be here.

I've been scanning slides from an overland trip I made in Zaire (now DR Congo) in Africa, and whilst in eastern Zaire I took a picture of this snake.
http://www.reflowrepairs.co.uk/ftp1/15a.jpg
Unfortunately this is the only photo I took of it (I was probably getting out of the way at the time!), but it has very interesting colouring.

I didn't see too many snakes on the trip, however I do remember the sad day when a stick across the track suddenly reared up and struck the front bumper of the vehicle, and was likely to have been a cobra. It looked almost certain that it was killed it as it was ran over :(

Many thanks in advance.

Nick

[bigsnakegirl785]

That doesn't look like a hood. It looks like the throat is being inflated. I highly doubt it's a cobra, but as what it is unfortunately I couldn't tell you.

[Roman]

It is difficult to identify a snake without seeing the head. From the inflated throat, the tongue and the bands you can see at the throat I would suggest it might be some kind of vine snake or twig snake (Thelotornis). Depending where you took the picture it would be Thelotornis capensis in the south of DR Congo or Thelotornis kirtlandii in northern DR Congo.

Roman

[pdomensis]

Gorgeous coloring though.

[nickpaton]

Many thanks for your interesting answers.

If I remember correctly I spotted it in north eastern Zaire as I was driving through the Vurunga National Park near the Ugandan border between Butembo and Goma.

From this location Roman, this would make it a vine /twig snake Thelotornis kirtlandii and I can certainly see a strong resemblance to this reference picture:

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0091_3183/0934/0113.jpeg

If anyone has any further information about these snakes please do pass it on.

Again many thanks!

[rinkhals]

I would agree that it is Thelotornis kirtlandii(forest vine snake) as well. Very cool sighting!

[nickpaton]

Many thanks for your reply and confirmation rinkhals. Much appreciated.