5 stunning purple snakes that look straight out of a fantasy novel

Snakes are among the lethal creatures found in the wild, and spotting one almost sends chills down a person’s spine. While these slithering reptiles are found in browns, blacks, greys and greens, there are some rare snakes that are found in stunning purple hues.While this might sound like those creatures from a fantasy novel, they are actually real!Some don it as a deep, glossy undertone across a dark body. Others make it visible only when light flashes on their flanks, their scales, or the way light catches them at a certain angle.Here are some mesmerising purple snakes that look straight out of a fantasy novel:Thumb Image: AI Generated (Canva)Native to South Africa's Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal regions, as well as southern Mozambique, this small burrowing snake rarely grows past 33 cm. Its body is a uniform black with a subtle purplish sheen, set off by white to yellow flanks. It has a fanged rear front, is a mildly venomous species, and is docile by nature and seldom bites; when threatened, it hides its head and waves its tail instead.Found across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, this small, earthworm-like snake spends nearly its entire life underground, sometimes burrowing as deep as 20 metres. Its body is pink, purple, or silvery-brown, shiny, and cylindrical, with vestigial eyes that can only detect light. It feeds mainly on ants and termites and is completely nonvenomous.Popularly also called the mangrove pit viper or shore pit viper, this species is native to India, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia, often found in coastal mangrove forests. Colouring ranges from dark rusty red to black or green, frequently with a purple tinge, and comes with bright red eyes. It's genuinely venomous, delivering a fast, aggressive strike with cytotoxic venom that causes severe swelling and pain.This is the largest of the purple-glossed snakes, found across Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, and other parts of southern Africa. Adults average around 75 cm but can exceed a metre in length. Its blackish-brown body carries a distinct purple gloss. It's a secretive, burrowing species, usually seen at night or after heavy rain.Photo: iNaturalistAlso known as the KwaZulu-Natal purple-glossed snake, this species is native to the northeastern and eastern regions of South Africa and Eswatini, with a range likely extending into southern Mozambique. It's smaller than its relatives, reaching only about 19 cm in total length. Dorsally, it's dark brown to purple-black with a glossy sheen, while its underside carries a pale blackish-purple tone.Photo: iNaturalist