SANBI

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

Widespread and common with no known substantial threats.

Distribution

Widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, but the exact range is difficult to define given the taxonomic issue (see Taxonomic Notes). According to Broadley (2002) and Branch (1998), the species occurs from South Sudan southwards to Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa and Eswatini (Swaziland). Within South Africa, it is known from the low-lying regions of Limpopo and Mpumulanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. It appears to be absent from the high-lying regions of Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Although Bourquin (2004) plotted several records throughout KwaZulu-Natal, including one as far south as the Eastern Cape/ KwaZulu-Natal provincial border, many of these require confirmation. All records west of 31°E and at and (from Bourquin 2004 and other sources) were excluded from the map in Bates et al. (2014) and here, as these were considered too far removed from the range described by Broadley (2002), and are probably referable to Psammophis brevirostris.

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

The population is suspected to be stable.

Threats

There are no known substantial threats to this species.

Uses and trade

There is no known utilization.

Conservation

None recommended.

References

[@book{612,
 address = {Pretoria},
 author = {Bates, M.F., Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M., Burger, M., Marais, J., Alexander, G.J. and de Villiers, M.S.},
 publisher = {Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute},
 title = {Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland},
 year = {2014}
}
,@book{2817,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Branch, W.R.},
 publisher = {Struik Publishers},
 title = {Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Edition},
 year = {1998}
}
,@article{5336,
 author = {Bourquin, O.},
 journal = {Durban Museum Novitates},
 pages = {57--103},
 title = {Reptiles (Reptilia) in KwaZulu-Natal: 1 - diversity and distribution},
 volume = {29},
 year = {2004}
}
,@article{44979971,
 author = {Broadley, D.G.},
 journal = {African Journal of Herpetology},
 number = {2},
 pages = {83--119},
 title = {A review of the species of <i>Psammophis</i> Boie found south of Latitude 12&deg;S (Serpentes: Psammophiinae)},
 volume = {51},
 year = {2002}
}
,@article{44979997,
 author = {Kelly, C.M.R., Barker, N.P., Villet, M.H., Broadley, D.G. and Branch, W.R.},
 journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution},
 pages = {1045--1060},
 title = {The snake family Psammophiidae (Reptilia: Serpentes): Phylogenetics and species delimitation in the African sand snakes (<i>Psammophis</i> Boie, 1825) and allied genera},
 volume = {47},
 year = {2008}
}
,]

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Red List of South African Species