Branch (1981) re-described this species as follows: The largest species of Elapsoidea, characterized by an obtusely pointed snout, with the rostral broadly visible from above. There is a surprising sexual dimorphism in size, males being almost half as big again as females (maximum snout-vent length, male 930 mm, female 580 mm). Associated with this male have more ventrals (163-181) than females (147-156), and have more subcaudals (males, 20-28; females 16-21). The anal is entire, subcaudals paired, and scales in 13 rows at midbody. Juveniles have 19-34 clearly defined white-edged pale brown bands on the body and 2-4 on the tail, that are narrower than the slate-grey interspaces. The head is pale, with a dark forward prolongation of the nape band onto the frontal. The ventrum pale brown mesially, bordered with cream. Adults over 500 mm snout-vent length retain well-defined pairs of light transverse lines

No separate diagnostic description was provided. Refer to the morphological description.

Type locality: South Africa to the eastward of Cape colony (= SE KwaZulu-Natal). Type lost [decosteri] Type: NMZB 14514 (formerly UM = Umtali Museum), Natural History Musum of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo [longicauda] Type: DNMNH 33362 (formerly TM = Transvaal Museum Pretoria) [media] Type: FMNH 17667 (Field Museum, Chicago) [fitzsimonsi]

This information was extracted from Tolley et al. (2023): The subspecies of E. sundevallii have overlapping morphological characters making them difficult to distinguish, calling into question their validity (Tolley et al. 2020). Preliminary unpublished phylogenetic results suggest that although the nominate subspecies E. s. sundevalli is distinctive, the other subspecies form a paraphyletic group within which there is no diagnosable genetic differences (K.A. Tolley, unpubl. data 2022).

Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe

Sundevall’s Garter snake is Widespread in southern Africa, extending from Namibia through Botswana, northern South Africa and Eswatini, into southern Mozambique and southeastern Zimbabwe (Broadley, 1971; Branch, 1998; Tolley et al., 2020).

Snakes have long backbones with many articulated ribs that are used for locomotion (Branch, 1998). Engaging the muscles attached to these rib bones allows snakes move in a typical slither fashion, but it also enables them to swim and climb. They use an undulating, side-to-side movement ('S' pattern or serpentine).

Carnivore- lizards, rodents,Vertebrates& snakes

Sundevall’s Garter snake diet is varied, including snakes, lizards and their eggs, rain frogs, rodents and moles (Branch, 1998).

This species is oviparous, with females laying up to 10 small eggs (Branch, 1998).

This is a slow-moving snake and are reluctant to bite (Branch, 1998).

Grassland, Savanna, Forest, Fynbos