File Snakes are found across much of sub-Saharan Africa. The common name refers to the triangular body shape, which gives the appearance of a three-cornered file [SHDA]. In addition, the larger species have a head that has been likened to that of a catfish [ibid]. Other characteristics of the genus are: enlarged vertebral scales with a double keel; in larger species, small lateral scales; interstitial skin visible, often harbouring ticks; scales in 15-19 midbody rows, all keeled and almost conical; oviparous; coloration usually grey, black or brown; broad, flat head very distinct from neck; anal undivided; subcaudals paired; females larger than males [SHDA, Branch].
These are slow-moving, nocturnal and secretive snakes, so are not often seen. Their diet consists largely of reptiles and amphibians, some being specialised snake eaters: for this reason, their captive suitability is rather poor. On the other hand they are docile, although restless in the hand and in some cases emptying the bowels [Branch]. In terms of relationships Branch suggested they might be closely related to the Wolf Snakes, Lycophidion. See SHDA also for some East African superstitions pertaining to these snakes.
| Scientific Name |
Common Name |
Distribution |
Size |
Notes |
| Mehelya |
| M. capensis |
Cape File Snake |
Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Dem. Rep. Congo, Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, S Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Malawi, S Mozambique, Botswana, Angola, S Mozambique, Zimbabwe, NE Nambia, Swaziland, NE RSA |
Max SVL approx 120cm (m), 160cm (f); avg TL 70-130cm |
Found mainly in savannah but also entering forest and coastal regions. It is largely terrestrial but will climb trees in search of prey: disused termite mounds are a popular hiding place, as well as holes, hollow logs, etc. SHDA note that its slow movement also makes it prone to becoming a road casualty. The species appears immune to the venom of other snakes and is also a major predator of plated lizards (Gerrhosaurus sp.): geckos, skinks, agamas and amphibians are also taken, and possibly smaller mammals. Scalation details: 2 labials enter the eye; Dorsal scalation: 15 rows at midbody; vertebral scales are fused to the backbone. Ventral scalation: 193-244. Subcaudals: 44-61. Coloration: overall grey, black or dark brown; dorsally grey to grey-brown, sometimes dark olive to purple brown; white to yellow vertebral stripe; interstitial skin pink to purple; ventrally and ventrolaterally white to cream. Reproduction: 5-13 eggs laid per clutch; up to 2 clutches per summer; incubation time in captivity 90-100 days. [SOURCE: Branch, SHDA] |
| M. c. capensis |
|
| M. c. fiechteri |
Fiechter's File Snake? |
Somalia |
This subspecies is mentioned by Branch but not by SHDA or the JCVI database. |
| M. c. savorgnani |
De Brazza's Cape File Snake |
Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Congo, Dem. Rep. Congo, Uganda, Kenya, S Sudan, Ethiopia |
Scalation details: 1 preocular; 2 (occasionally 3) postoculars; temporals 1-2 or 1-3; supralabials 7, of which 3rd and 4th contact the eye; infralabials 8-9, of which five contact the anterior chin shields. Coloration: dorsally uniform; ventrally white with dark edges. [SOURCES: SHDA, Schmidt & Noble] |
| M. c. unicolor |
Savanna Cape File Snake |
E Dem. Rep. Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, NW Tanzania |
Coloration: ventrally dark brown, black or yellow. |
| M. crossi |
African File Snake, Crosse's File Snake |
Mali, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Burkino Faso, Benin, Central African Republic |
|
|
| M. egbensis |
Dunger's File Snake |
Nigeria |
|
|
| M. gabouensis |
Gabou File Snake |
Senegal |
|
|
| M. guirali |
Mocquard's File Snake |
Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Central African Republic, N Dem. Rep. Congo, poss. Congo |
|
|
| M. laurenti |
Laurent's File Snake |
Dem. Rep. Congo |
|
|
| M. nyassae |
Black File Snake |
S Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Dem. Rep. Congo, Swaziland, NE RSA, Namibia |
Max SVL approx 43cm (m), 52cm (f); max TL approx 65cm (f), avg. 35-55cm |
Found in low savanna, coastal thicket and woodland. Details of prey sketchy, supposedly lizards and possibly snakes and amphibians. Scalation details: 2 labials enter the eye. Dorsal scalation: 15 rows at midbody, vertebral row enlarged and hexagonal, with double keel. Ventral scalation: 165-184. Other: head longer than in other file snakes, smooth on top; eye small, dark, pupil hard to see. Subcaudals: 51-77. Coloration: dorsally dark- to purple-brown; interstitial skin pink; ventrally either dark olive to black or white to cream-olive. Reproduction: up to 6 eggs laid per clutch; no other details available. [SOURCE: Branch, SHDA] |
| M. poensis |
Western Forest File Snake |
Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Gabon, Congo, Dem. Rep. Congo, Central African Republic, Uganda, Angola |
Max TL approx 140cm; avg TL 80-120cm |
This species is found in forest. It appears to prey mainly on lizards. Scalation details: 2 labials enter the eye. Dorsal scalation: 15 rows at midbody. Ventral scalation: 236-262. Subcaudals: 75-124. Other: the tail in this species is relatively long. Coloration: olive-grey or grey-brown (W African specimens described as red-brown); interstitial skin light grey; ventrally lighter, dirty brown to yellowish or white, the outer edges of the ventrals being darker. Reproduction: up to 6 eggs laid per clutch; no other details available. [SOURCE: SHDA] |
| M. stenophthalmus |
Small-Eyed File Snake |
Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Central African Republic, Congo, Dem. Rep. Congo, Uganda |
Max TL approx 76cm, avg 40-70cm |
Found in forest and recently deforested areas. Details are sketchy regarding diet, but it is believed to prey on snakes. Pauwels et al encountered an 80cm long specimen of this species trying to predate a young Royal Python. Although the python was apparently rather shorter, it held the file snake in a leisurely but secure grip for three hours that would have ended in the death of the colubrid if other observers had not interrupted the fight; as it was, the file snake appeared to be mortally injured. Dorsal scalation: smooth except for vertebral row, in 15 midbody rows. Ventral scalation: 192-228. Subcaudals: 47-60. Coloration: glossy black, purple-black or olive-brown (specimens from Cameroon described as greenish); scales iridescent; dorsal scales have fine white edging; ventrally ivory white, cream or light yellow, becoming darker at outer edges. Reproduction: no details available. [SOURCES: Pauwels, SHDA] |
| M. vernayi |
Angola File Snake |
N Nambia, SW Angola |
Max SVL approx 109cm (m), 115cm (f) |
Similar to Cape File Snake, M. capensis. The species is known to predate toads and lizards. Scalation details: 3 labials enter the eye. Dorsal scalation: 19 rows at midbody. Ventral scalation: 256-268. Subcaudals: ??. Coloration: anteriorly dorsally dark red-brown; scales increasingly pale-centred towards tail, creating speckled appearance; ventrally cream-yellow. Reproduction: small number of eggs laid per clutch; no other details available. [SOURCE: Branch] |