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.
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.
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.
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.
As always, we hope you enjoyed this article featured as part of TigerHomes Sanctuary's continuing Educational Series. We also hope you will take this opportunity to visit our world renowned Animal Cams. You are invited to take your own snapshots and enter your pictures into our Viewer Gallery Contest for a chance to win monthly prizes! The SANCTUARY is a permanent home to Rare White Tigers, Golden Tigers, Bengal Tigers, Siberian Tigers, African Lions and Lemurs. Our residents are quite the characters and simply amazing to watch in their natural habitats. It is our Mission to preserve and protect these Endangered Species. You can help save Endangered Species right now by visiting our Gift Shop. Become a proud Sponsor! Please help us by sponsoring the animals & our work. TigerHomes Sanctuary welcomes and needs your support!
 Order: Squamata, Family: Viperidae Pit viper. Characterized by a tail rattle that produces a buzzing sound when vibrated.
Rattle is composed of horny, loosely connected segments added one at a time with each skin shedding, usually containing six to ten segments.
Triangular-shaped head that is broader than the neck.
Coloring varies by species, but usually blends in well with its surroundings, i.e., mottled or banded in shades of ...
|
 The coral snake's body is orange to coral-red, with 20 to 47 black bands that decrease in width toward the tail.
Its belly is yellow, with the black bands completely encircling the body in young snakes, but fading in adults, leaving only the first two or three intact.
The coral snake has a broad rostral shield that it uses to burrow.
Its head is indistinct from its neck.
|
 By John Henkel They fascinate. They repel.
Some pose a danger. Most are harmless.
And whether they are seen as slimy creatures or colorful curiosities, snakes play important environmental roles in the fragile ecosystems of the nation's wildlife areas.
People who frequent these wilderness spots, as well as those who camp, hike, picnic, or live in snake-inhabited areas, should be aware of potential dange...
|
 Order: Squamata, Family: Viperidae The common lancehead is usually brown, reddish-brown, olive, green or grayish-brown in color with large, dark, pale triangles on the sides of its body.
Its head is triangular and pointed.
The lancehead measures 4 to 7 feet long.
|
 The krait is a highly venomous snake found in Southeast Asia. There are 13 species of krait, and two prominent types of krait in India. All kraits are nocturnal.
The banded krait is readily identified by its alternate black and yellow bands. Kraits also have a row of hexagonal scales along the ridge of their back.
The common krait is a slate-colored snake with thin white bands that are abse...
|
 Order: Squamata, Family: Colubridae The slender vine snake measures 5 to 6 1/2 inches in length and 1 to 2 inches in diameter.
Its head is the same width as its body.
It has sharp rear fangs.
The vine snake is green-brown in color.
|
(3.6)
Add Feedback