Western green mamba

Western green mamba
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Subfamily: Elapinae
Genus: Dendroaspis
Species:
D. viridis
Binomial name
Dendroaspis viridis
(Hallowell, 1844)[2]
Dendroaspis viridis range
Synonyms[3][4]
  • Leptophis viridis
    Hallowell, 1844
  • Dinophis hammondii
    Hallowell, 1852
  • Dendroaspis viridis hallowelli
    Yeomans, 1993
  • Dendroaspis viridis hallowelli
    – Barnett & Emms, 2005

The western green mamba (Dendroaspis viridis) is a long, thin, and highly venomous snake species of the mamba genus, Dendroaspis. This species was first described in 1844 by American herpetologist Edward Hallowell. The western green mamba is a fairly large and predominantly arboreal species, capable of navigating through trees swiftly and gracefully. It will also descend to ground level to pursue prey such as rodents and other small mammals.

The western green mamba is a shy and agile snake that lives mainly in the coastal tropical rainforest, thicket, and woodland regions of western Africa. Its venom is a highly potent mixture of rapid-acting presynaptic and postsynaptic neurotoxins (dendrotoxins), cardiotoxins and fasciculins. Some consider this species not to be a particularly aggressive snake, but others have suggested that they are extremely nervous and are prone to attack aggressively when cornered. Conflict with humans is low compared to some other species found in the region. Bites to people by this species are quite uncommon. Their mortality rate, however, is high; many of the recorded bites have been fatal. Rapid progression of severe, life-threatening symptoms are hallmarks of mamba bites. Bites with envenomation can be rapidly fatal.

  1. ^ Luiselli, L.; Segniagbeto, G. (2013). "Dendroaspis viridis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T13265799A13265808. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T13265799A13265808.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Dendroaspis viridis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  3. ^ Boulenger, George Albert (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III. Vol. 3. London: Natural History Museum (London) Publications. p. 435.
  4. ^ Dendroaspis viridis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 February 2016.