A small, secretive snake that lives in the tropical forests of West and Central Africa, where it spends most of its life hidden under leaf litter, rotting logs, or in loose soil. At first glance, it may not look particularly remarkable—usually a plain brown or grayish color with a lighter belly—but its behavior and diet make it one of the most unusual snakes in Africa. Unlike most snakes that go after frogs, rodents, or lizards, this little reptile has a very specific craving: it specializes almost entirely in eating centipedes.

What makes the Western forest centipede-eater so unique is its combination of body design and feeding habits. It’s a small snake with a slender build that allows it to wriggle easily through the forest floor and tight underground spaces. It has rear-facing grooved fangs at the back of its mouth, used to inject mild venom. This venom is too weak to harm humans but just strong enough to subdue centipedes, which are surprisingly tough prey. Centipedes have venom of their own, armored bodies, and a painful bite, but this little snake has evolved to handle them with precision.

Hunting for centipedes requires both patience and boldness. The Western forest centipede-eater is mostly nocturnal, slithering through the forest floor at night in search of its many-legged prey. When it finds one, it strikes quickly, using its venom to paralyze the centipede before swallowing it whole—legs, venom, and all. This level of specialization sets it apart from many other snakes in the same habitats, which have much more varied diets. It’s a perfect example of how some animals evolve to thrive on what others avoid.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Benin

2014

Presence Uncertain

Burundi

2014

Possibly Extant

Côte D’ivoire

2014

DR Congo (Kinshasa)

2014

Gabon

2014

Ghana

2014

Guinea

2014

Kenya

2014

Possibly Extant

Liberia

2014

Nigeria

2014

Rwanda

2014

Possibly Extant

Sierra Leone

2014

Togo

2014

Uganda

2014