Durban — Many people mistake the boomslang or a selection of harmless green snakes in the genus Philothamnus for the green mamba.
This was according to the African Snakebite Institute (ASI) in its newsletter focused on the green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps), described by Sir Andrew Smith in 1849 from animals collected from Natal.
The Latin name angusticeps comes from “angustus” meaning narrow and “ceps” an abbreviation for head – narrow head.
The ASI said that many years ago, the black and green mamba were considered to be the same species and were thought of as colour variations. Some theories included that young mambas were green, turning darker and almost black as they age. Another theory was that males were black and females green or that mambas that lived in the sun turned dark and those in thick coastal forests that did not see much sun stayed green.
In 1946, the Fitzsimons brothers noted the differences between the two species and revived Günther’s 1846 name Dendroaspis polylepis (many-scales) for the black mamba and kept Dendroaspis angusticeps for the green mamba.
“The green mamba is an attractive, bright green snake, with velvety scales and may have scattered yellow scales across the body. The underside is light green to yellowish. Juveniles are often darker turquoise with green heads and light olive-green eyes. As is the case with most green pigments in nature, damaged scales or dead green mambas will start turning blue and there are infrequent reports of blue green mambas. The maximum length of a green mamba is around 2.5m although they are seldom encountered over 2m. Juveniles hatch at around 30-40cm and grow rapidly,” the ASI said describing green mambas.
It said that green mambas are known to engage in male combat at the start of the breeding season.
“From around April, we start seeing males engaged in combat, usually on the ground, wrapped around one another with their heads in the air, attempting to push the other male’s head down and show dominance. The dominant male will then move off and mate with the female who will be nearby,” the ASI said.
It said that mating takes place from April to June and is usually performed in a tree with the tails of the two snakes hanging down and lightly wrapped around one another.
The female lays eggs in midsummer and the babies hatch between March and April.
“This is a docile snake and is not nearly as nervous and unpredictable as the black mamba,” the ASI said.
“It seldom gapes the mouth in a threat display and prefers to move off into thick vegetation if disturbed. It is an arboreal (tree-living) snake, only venturing to the ground to move between trees, bask in a sunny spot or chase prey. At night they may sleep curled up on branches or in the hollow of a dead tree stump.”
The ASI also said that green mambas prey largely on birds and small rodents and occasionally chameleons.
The ASI said that green mambas are an East Coast species, occurring from around Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape along the coast into KwaZulu-Natal eastward into Mozambique and north into East Africa.
In South Africa, they are usually found within 3-5km from the sea, but into northern KwaZulu-Natal, they may extend inland as far as 45km.
In Mozambique, they largely hug the coast, but do extend inland around Vilankulos and extend into the thick forests around the Zimbabwean Eastern Highlands. They are also known inland in Malawi but stay coastal in Tanzania and Kenya.
“This snake prefers tropical climates of coastal forest or moist savanna and savanna forest. It is not found in dry lowveld habitats such as the Kruger National Park, eSwatini or Zambia and many people mistake the boomslang or a selection of harmless green snakes in the genus Philothamnus for the green mamba,” the ASI said.
The ASI added that green mamba venom is considered potentially lethal and is known to have some neurotoxic properties that may affect breathing.
“However, recent bites have all shown decent swelling and limited neurotoxic effects, suggesting the venom is a mix of neurotoxic and cytotoxic proteins. As this snake is docile, it is unlikely that the average person would get bitten. However, in the event of a bite, the victim should be taken to the hospital immediately. Fatal bites from the green mamba are rare,” the ASI explained.
“This is a beautiful, docile snake that poses little danger to the average person. They are best left alone and admired. However, if a green mamba does end up in your house or garden and poses a threat to humans or pets, use the ASI Snakes App to find a nearby snake remover and get the snake relocated to a safer area.”
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