An egg-eater snake may belong to one of six separate species of snake. The type of snake that eats only eggs are referred to as either African egg-eaters or Indian egg-eaters. Africa egg-eater snakes, grouped together in the genus Dasypeltis, live all over the African continent and are not venomous. Indian egg-eater snakes, formally known as the genus Elachistodon, are far less common than their African counterparts and live in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Several different species make up the group of egg-eater snakes in Africa, and each of the species differ greatly in size, appearance, and color. The length of the snakes can range from under one foot (30.48 cm) to over three feet (91.44 cm). Coloration may vary from black to brown to green, with any degree of blending of the shades. The patterns on their scales are also very diverse, but snakes that live in certain places usually have some measure of similarity in appearance.
Each species of African egg-eater snake typically live in wooded locations which are also inhabited by many kinds of birds. The snakes require the presence of birds because they eat only eggs. Egg-eater snakes have developed a very keen sense of smell that allows them to detect whether an egg is safe to eat or rotten.
An African egg-eater snake can consume eggs that are very large when compared to the size of its body. It has a mouth and neck that can expand greatly to accommodate big eggs. The toothless snakes puts its mouth around an egg, force it down the throat, and presses the egg against the bony bumps on the back of its spine to crack the shell. After cracking the shell, the snakes empty the liquid contents of the egg and spit out the shell.
The Indian egg-eater snake is usually black or brown but may contain specks of blue. Egg-eaters are nocturnal, which may aid them in stealing eggs. Like its more widespread African counterpart, an Indian egg-eater snake also has a bony protrusion on its backbone that helps crack eggs.
Some people like to keep egg-eater snakes as pets because they generally have a calm disposition and have no teeth, eliminating the fear of being bitten. An egg-eater snake requires special care because of its unique diet. Snake owners should find out what kinds of eggs the snake will eat and how often to feed them. People that want to keep an egg-eater snake as a pet should also research the correct environment and appropriate habitat temperatures to ensure the reptile’s health and survival.
