''Psammophis angolensis'', sometimes known as the dwarf sand snake, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of snake in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Psammophiidae Psammophiidae is a family of elapoid snakes. They were formerly placed as a subfamily of the Lamprophiidae, but have been more recently identified as a distinct family. Genera It contains 8 genera: * '' Dipsina'' Jan, 1862 * ''Hemirhagerrhis'' ...

reaching a maximum length of 50 cm, but averaging 30 cm. The snake actively forages for lizards and frogs.MARAIS, J. 2004. A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town. The species is widespread in

sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the List of sov ...

, ranging from Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, through Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, westwards to Angola and southwards through Zimbabwe to South Africa.Maritz, B. 2014. ''Psammophis angolensis'' (Bocage, 1872). In M.F. Bates, W.R. Branch, A.M. Bauer, M. Burg- er, J. Marais, G.J. Alexander & M.S. de Villiers (eds), Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3409416 Psammophis Snakes of Africa Reptiles of Angola Reptiles of Botswana Reptiles of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Reptiles of Ethiopia Reptiles of Malawi Reptiles of Mozambique Reptiles of Namibia Reptiles of South Africa Reptiles of Tanzania Reptiles of Zambia Reptiles of Zimbabwe Reptiles described in 1872 Taxa named by José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage