Amblyodipsas polylepis (Bocage, 1873)

Dorsal Scale Characteristics

This species, Amblyodipsas polylepis, has smooth dorsal scales that lack pits, arranged in 21 rows. As the specific epithet polylepis indicates, this is a larger number of scale rows than occurs in any other species of the genus Amblyodipsas.

Ventral & Subcaudal Scalation

It has 163 to 212 ventral scales, a divided anal scale, and 16 to 27 divided subcaudal scales. All other aspects of its scalation match that of Amblyodipsas unicolor.

Body Coloration

Its entire body is colored blackish brown.

Size Measurements

The species reaches a total length of 40 cm (15+3⁄4 inches), with a tail length of 23 mm (7⁄8 inch).

General Distribution Range

It is endemic to the eastern and northern regions of southern Africa.

Country-Level Occurrences

It has been recorded in Angola, Namibia, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, the Republic of South Africa, Tanzania, coastal Kenya, and Somalia.