Common Egg-eating Snake

Meet the Common Egg Eater: Dasypeltis scabra

Dasypeltis scabra, commonly known as the common egg eater, egg-eating snake, or rhombic egg eater, is a fascinating and non-venomous snake species native to Africa. This unique snake can also be found in Saudi Arabia and various parts of the Middle East. Reaching lengths of 40-46 inches, it is distinguished by its almost toothless jaws and distinctive appearance. Its back features dark brown, rhomboid-shaped spots on a lighter background, and it bears a V-shaped mark at the back of its neck. The belly is yellowish with dark spots.

Interestingly, the common egg eater is thought to mimic the venomous saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) and closely resembles the rhombic night adder (Causus rhombeatus). True to its name, Dasypeltis scabra has a diet consisting exclusively of eggs. It uses small ridges in its mouth to grip the eggshells, then punctures the egg with specialized vertebrae and swallows the contents, later regurgitating the shell.

Primarily nocturnal and terrestrial, the common egg eater is also adept at climbing rocks and trees to raid bird nests. When threatened, it has a unique defense mechanism: it inflates its body, hisses by rubbing its scales together, and strikes with its mouth open to scare off predators.

In terms of reproduction, the common egg eater is oviparous, meaning it lays eggs. Females lay clutches of 6-25 eggs, and the hatchlings, upon emergence, are about 21-24 cm long.