Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)
By: C.M.Shorter
The Boomslang
Snake is a rather large, highly
poisonous tree dwelling snake found throughout sub-Saharan
Africa.
Boomslangs are greenish to brown or even black in color.
These coloring variations are the greatest of any other
snakes in their Afrotropic regional habitat. It is the
adult females that are usually brown in color, with
males a light
green color often with black or blue highlights outlining
the edges of their scales. This snake is a one deadly animal
because of its preference for aerial positioning in tree
top and shrub cover. Hard to see in the thick forested
cover of the savanna, the Boomslang Snake is well camouflaged
and strikes without giving any warning signal. The Boomslang
delivers a potent Hemotoxic
venom to its victim through
large, deeply grooved Folded
Fangs positioned in the rear
of its mouth and this snake
bite can be fatal if left untreated.
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Average length is 100-160 centimeters (approximately 3.5 to just
over 5 feet in length) with some snakes recorded over 6 feet in
length. The most readily identifiable physical feature of the Boomslang
is exceptionally large eyes proportionate to its distinctive egg-shaped
head. If agitated, the Boomslang moves quickly and will inflate
its neck to double its normal size right before striking its victim.
Equipped with stereoscopic vision, the Boomslang hunts during the
day in its arboreal territory making meals of chameleons, arboreal
lizards, frogs, and occasionally small mammals, birds and eggs
from nesting birds which they swallow whole.
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The Boomslang is a very unusual snake in
that it is one of the very few poisonous snakes identified
in the Colubridae snake family. Colubrids are the most common
snakes with over 2,000 species worldwide, most of which are
non-venomous snakes, including the Kingsnakes & Milk
Snakes,
Black Racers and Ribbon Snakes, all very popular species in
the captive
bred reptile industry. Boomslangs shares this rare
poisonous Colubrid classification with only one other snake,
the Bird Snake (thelotornis kirtlandii). The bite strike of
the Boomslang, with dominant Hemotoxic venom, affects the circulatory
system destroying red blood cells causing organ degeneration
and generalized tissue damage. Snakes with this deadly venom
are classified in the group known as Solenoglypha which includes
many of the snakes in the Viper families. Viperidae (True Vipers)
such as the American Copperhead, Crotalidae (Pit Vipers) like
the Cottonmouth and Rattlesnakes, and the Asian Pit Vipers
have bites causing intense pain, swelling and necrosis even
when delivered in small amounts, these snake bite causes severe
hemorrhaging continuing for extended periods, even 24-48 hours
after strike contact, making the Boomslang very dangerous to
man.
These excellent tree climbing snake are oviparous, laying up
to 8-25 eggs usually in the hollows of a tree or in mounds of
leaf litter. Young Boomslang snakes hatch in the Spring, some
70-100 days later. Fairly common throughout sub-Sarahan Africa,
the Boomslang occupies the same territory as the Twig
Snake,
Cobra, Puff
Adder, the Green Mamba and the greatly feared Black
Mamba.
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Common Name: Boomslang
Scientific Name: Dispholidus typus
Snake Family: Colubridae
Description: Long, agile tree-dwelling snakes with wide color
variations from Light Brown (females), Greens (males) to black.
Characteristics: Difficult to see in their natural environment,
not overly aggressive but approach is swift and without warning
when attacking.
Reproduction: Oviparous (egg bearing) with as many as 8-25 young
hatched in the Spring.
Length: 100-160 centimeters (Approx. 3.5-5.5 ft)
Habitat Distribution: Common throughout the countries of sub-Saharan
Africa, which includes some of the poorest
countries in the world and the Island of Madagascar, throughout the Comoros archipelago,
Mauritius, and Seychelles.
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