Mole snake

P. cana was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Its original binomial name was Coluber cana. Since then, it has also been called Coronella cana by André Marie Constant Duméril, Gabriel Bibron and Auguste Duméril in 1854, before being reclassified as Pseudaspis cana by Edward Drinker Cope in 1864. P. cana is the only species in genus Pseudaspis. The genus has been placed in the family Lamprophiidae. More recently it has been placed in the family Pseudaspididae, along with the genera Buhoma and Pythonodipsas, although a 2019 study concluded that the status of Pseudaspididae "deserves to be viewed with caution", and Buhoma may not belong in the family.{{Citation |mode=cs1 |last1=Zaher |first1=Hussam |last2=Murphy |first2=Robert W. |last3=Arredondo |first3=Juan Camilo |last4=Graboski |first4=Roberta |last5=Machado-Filho |first5=Paulo Roberto |last6=Mahlow |first6=Kristin |last7=G. Montingelli |first7=Giovanna |last8=Bottallo Quadros |first8=Ana |last9=Orlov |first9=Nikolai L. |last10=Wilkinson |first10=Mark |last11=Zhang |first11=Ya-Ping |last12=Grazziotin |first12=Felipe G. |date=10 May 2019 |title=Large-scale molecular phylogeny, morphology, divergence-time estimation, and the fossil record of advanced caenophidian snakes (Squamata: Serpentes) |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=14 |issue=5 |page=e0216148 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0216148 |pmid=31075128 |pmc=6512042 |name-list-style=amp |doi-access=free |bibcode=2019PLoSO..1416148Z }}

The mole snake can grow to a total length (including tail) of {{convert|2|m|abbr=on}}. A small head and pointed snout are characteristics of the species. It has a firm, tubular body. Like the majority of the Lamprophiidae, P. cana is not venomous.

In mature individuals, the body is mostly one colour, and may vary from yellow to brown to grey, and in some cases, solid black. The young have dark markings and spots that are gradually lost as the individual ages.{{cite web|url=http://www.koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedoe/article/viewFile/867/993|title=A Short Account of the Reptiles of the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park|last1=Fitzsimons|first1=V.|author-link=Vivian Frederick Maynard FitzSimons|last2=Brain|first2=C.K.|author2-link=species:Charles Kimberlin Brain|pages=102–103|accessdate=25 January 2010}} Colour may be related to geography; in the south, most specimens are black, whereas specimens found in the northern part of their range are brown, reddish-brown, grey, or yellow.

The primary food source of P. cana is golden moles (hence the common name), rodents, and other small mammals.{{cite journal|hdl=2263/10479|title=Post mortem identification of Kalicephalus colubri colubri (Nematoda: Diaphanocephalidae) in a captive Mole snake (Pseudaspis cana) in South Africa|last=Junker|first=K.|author2=E P Laneb |author3=B Dlaminib |author4=A Kotzeb |author5=J Boomker |journal=Journal of the South African Veterinary Association|year=2009|volume=80|issue=1|pages=54–6|doi=10.4102/jsava.v80i1.170|pmid=19653521|doi-access=free}} For this reason, it is considered useful for the natural control of problem rodents.

Its diet may also include the eggs of seafowl. At Robben Island, mole snakes were observed eating the eggs of Spheniscus demersus (African penguin), Larus hartlaubii (Harlaub's gull), and Numida meleagris (helmeted guinea-fowl). Juveniles were observed eating Strongylopus grayii (clicking stream frogs).{{cite journal|url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nisc/sajms/1996/00000017/00000001/art00029|title=Predation by snakes on seabirds at three South African islands (Abstract)|last=Dyer|first=B.M.|date=June 1996|journal=South African Journal of Marine Science|volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=309–313 |publisher=NISC Pty Ltd|doi=10.2989/025776196784158374 |accessdate=25 January 2010}}

The mole snake is a nest predator of the Karoo prinia (Prinia maculosa). P. cana is one of at least six snake species which cause reproductive loss and decrease of nest success in P. maculosa.{{cite web|url=http://umt.edu/mcwru/files.pdf/Tom's%20PDF/Influence%20of%20nestsite%20characteristics2004.pdf|title=The influence of nest-site characteristics on the nesting success of the Karoo Prinia (Prinia maculosa)|last=Nalwanga|first=Dianah |author2=Penn Lloyd |author3=Morné A du Plessis |author4=Thomas E Martin|year=2004|work=Ostrich|publisher=NISC Pty Ltd|accessdate=25 January 2010|location=South Africa}}

The range of the mole snake encompasses most of southern Africa.{{cite web|url=http://www.pinesnake.de/english/other/pseudaspis.html|title=Keeping of the African Mole Snake|date=6 January 2008|publisher=Pinesnake.de|accessdate=23 January 2010|last= Skubowius|first= Bernd}} P. cana is common in Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. It is widely distributed, with a range stretching from Angola in the north to Kenya in the east to South Africa.

The mole snake lives in the abandoned burrows of other animals. It can be found in a variety of habitats, such as the scrublands of the South African Cape and the Highveld plateaux and grasslands. It has also been found in mountainous and desert areas.

The mole snake is viviparous, mating takes place in late spring (October),{{cite book | title=Field Guide - Snakes & Other Reptiles of Southern Africa | publisher=Branch, William R. | year=1998 | pages=80 | isbn=1868720403}} and the female gives birth to usually between 25 and 50 young, with as many as 95 possible. The young snakes are 20 to 30 cm in length at birth.{{cite book | title=Snakes and snakebite in Southern Africa | publisher=Struik Publishers Pty Ltd | author=Marais, Johan | year=1999 | pages=76–77 | isbn=1868722813}}

The mole snake can be "quite ferocious". Though not venomous, they can cause severe bite wounds. Despite this, they are said to make good pets when sufficiently settled.

File:Illustrations of the zoology of South Africa (6263333797).jpg|Illustration of a mole snake

File:Pseudaspis cana.JPG|Juvenile mole snake (Pseudaspis cana) during sunbathing

File:Pseudaspis cana, Rehoboth.jpg|A mole snake near Rehoboth, Namibia

File:Juvenile Mole Snake (Pseudaspis cana) (7027018261).jpg|Juvenile mole snake, Auob River bed, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

File:Mole Snake (Pseudaspis cana) juvenile (6452886737).jpg|A mole snake, Nossob River, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

File:Mole Snake (Pseudaspis cana) (6868524868).jpg|A mole snake, Lijersdraal picnic site, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

File:Illustrations of the zoology of South Africa (6263333393).jpg|Illustration of a mole snake

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline |Pseudaspis cana |Pseudaspis cana}}

{{Taxonbar |from=Q1911149}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mole Snake}}

Category:Snakes of Africa

Category:Reptiles of South Africa

Category:Monotypic snake genera

Category:Reptiles described in 1758

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

Category:Pseudaspididae