The savanna vine snake (Thelotornis capensis), also known commonly, as the southern vine snake, is a species of highly venomous snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. There are two recognized subspecies.
Thelotornis capensis is found in southern Africa.
The preferred natural habitats of Thelotornis capensis are forest, savanna, and shrubland.
Thelotornis capensis is diurnal and semi-arboreal.
Thelotornis capensis is slender and has a long tail. The longest museum specimen is a male with a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of , a tail long, and a combined total length of .
Thelotornis capensis is venomous. Venom is delivered by large grooved teeth at the rear of the upper jaw. German herpetologist Robert Mertens died as the result of being bitten by this species.
Thelotornis capensis is oviparous. Clutch size is 4âÂÂ13 eggs. The eggs are elongated and rather small, each measuring on average long and wide.
Two subspecies of Thelotornis capensis are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Thelotornis.
The subspecific name, oatesi, honors British naturalist Frank Oates.