Harmless Snakes of South africa

Western Stripe-bellied Sand Snake (Psammophis subtaeniatus)

This is a beautiful, alert, diurnal harmless snake that is very fast. Could be the fastest South African Snake.
When disturbed it dashes off in a blaze, but freezes when it reaches suitable cover.
It grows fairly long, up to 1,4 m but is thin.
It does has back fangs and a weak venom and is harmless to man.

I have had the good fortune to catching one of these when it dashed into a bush and froze. It thought that I could not see it and I simply picked it up. It remained calm in my hands and did not attempt to bite.