Eastern green mamba
Encyclopedia
The Eastern green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps) is a medium to large arboreal highly venomous snake of the family Elapidae
.
and occurs throughout much of eastern Africa
. It is found near the coast stretching from western South Africa
through to Mozambique
, Tanzania
, Swaziland
, and as far as south-east Kenya
, going inland as far as southern Malawi
and eastern Zimbabwe
.
it is known to enter houses and often shelters in thatched roof dwellings. They may even be found in tropical or sub-tropical regions within their range.
, this mamba is very shy and generally not too aggressive. It will avoid confrontation with humans or other potential predators when possible. They are fast snakes, capable of moving 7 mph. They don't always strike, but under continuous harassment and provocation and especially if cornered, they may suddenly become very ferocious and strike repeatedly in quick succession.
They are a diurnal
species that hunt during the day. The diet of the Eastern green mamba consists primarily of adult and juvenile bird
s, bird egg
s, frogs, lizards, rodents, and other small mammal
s. They will hunt on the ground if suitable prey cannot be found in the trees. Young specimens will occasionally eat other reptiles, such as chameleon
s.
s, cardiotoxins, calcicludine
, and fasciculins. The average venom yield per bite is 60–95 mg (Minton, 1974), while the subcutaneous
ranges from 0.26 mg/kg to 3.05 mg/kg. Like all other Mamba species, the toxicity of individual specimens within the same species and subspecies can vary greatly based on several factors including geographical region and even the weather and altitude (Ernst and Zug et al. 1996). Local swelling is variable and sometimes absent after mamba bites. However, patients bitten by the eastern green mamba develop swelling of the entire bitten limb and also show mild haemostatic disturbances (Warrell DA; MacKay et al. 1966). The rare cases of local tissue damage usually resulted from bites on the fingers or the use of a tight tourniquet. This species has caused fatalities among bitten humans. The mortality rate of untreated bites is unknown but is thought to be high.
Elapidae
Elapidae is a family of venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, terrestrially in Asia, Australia, Africa, North America and South America and aquatically in the Pacific and Indian Oceans...
.
Description
The eastern green mamba is overall glossy green in colour with a lighter bright greenish-yellow belly. This is the smallest Mamba (dendroaspis) species, averaging only 1.4 metres (4.6 ft) in length. The maximum size for this species is 2.4 metres (7.9 ft), but this is uncommon. Male eastern green mambas are generally slightly larger than females. The species has two enlarged venom fangs fixed to the front of the mouth and solid teeth in both jaws. It has very smooth scales, is thin and elegant with a very distinctive head that is long and rectangular and they have a long thin tail. Their eyes are medium in size with round pupils. Dorsal scales are oblique, smooth and narrow. Dorsal scale count usually 25 - ( 21 or 23 ) - ( 15 to 19 ). Eastern green mamba hatchlings have a yellowish-green color.Geographic range
This species is indigenous to the east coast of southern AfricaSouthern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
and occurs throughout much of eastern Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. It is found near the coast stretching from western South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
through to Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
, and as far as south-east Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, going inland as far as southern Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
and eastern Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
.
Habitat
Eastern green mamba's are an arboreal species and thus are almost always found in trees. Very rarely are they found on the ground unless driven by prey or for their need to bask under the sun. They are not usually found in open terrain. Thickly forested and bush-covered areas such as evergreen forests, mainly make for this species' habitat. They can also be found in regions like coastal scrub, woodland, moist savanna, bamboo and mango plantations. The species can even be found in dense montane forest up to about 1700 metres (5,577.4 ft) above sea level. They're often found in thickets and farm trees (citrus, cashew nut, coconut and mango) which offer plenty of shade. In coastal east AfricaEast Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
it is known to enter houses and often shelters in thatched roof dwellings. They may even be found in tropical or sub-tropical regions within their range.
Behaviour and Diet
This species is highly arboreal and seldom ventures to the ground unless following prey or to bask under the sun. Unlike its much larger cousin the Black mambaBlack mamba
The black mamba , also called the common black mamba or black-mouthed mamba, is the longest venomous snake in Africa, averaging around in length, and sometimes growing to lengths of...
, this mamba is very shy and generally not too aggressive. It will avoid confrontation with humans or other potential predators when possible. They are fast snakes, capable of moving 7 mph. They don't always strike, but under continuous harassment and provocation and especially if cornered, they may suddenly become very ferocious and strike repeatedly in quick succession.
They are a diurnal
Diurnal animal
Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...
species that hunt during the day. The diet of the Eastern green mamba consists primarily of adult and juvenile bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s, bird egg
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
s, frogs, lizards, rodents, and other small mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s. They will hunt on the ground if suitable prey cannot be found in the trees. Young specimens will occasionally eat other reptiles, such as chameleon
Chameleon
Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, the possession by many of a...
s.
Reproduction
The eastern green mamba is solitary, except during mating. Males find females by following a scent trail. Male eastern green mambas will compete with other males with a ritual dance or wrestling contest on the ground, in which one male tries to force the other down. These combats may last for several hours. Combat does not include biting. Courtship and mating take place in the trees, after which the female lays between 6-17 eggs (average of 10-15 eggs are usually laid). The eggs are usually laid in a hollow tree among decaying vegetation. After a little over three months, the young mambas hatch and are between 35 and 45 cm (13 to 18 inches) in length and are venomous from birth. This species can live up to 15–25 years, and 14 years if kept in captivity.Venom
The eastern green mamba is a very venomous snake. The venom consists mainly of neurotoxinNeurotoxin
A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells , usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. Some sources are more general, and define the effect of neurotoxins as occurring at nerve tissue...
s, cardiotoxins, calcicludine
Calcicludine
Calcicludine is a protein toxin from the venom of the green mamba that inhibits high-voltage-activated calcium channels, especially L-type calcium channels.- Source :Calcicludine is a toxin in the venom of the green mamba ....
, and fasciculins. The average venom yield per bite is 60–95 mg (Minton, 1974), while the subcutaneous
Subcutaneous injection
A subcutaneous injection is administered as a bolus into the subcutis, the layer of skin directly below the dermis and epidermis, collectively referred to as the...
ranges from 0.26 mg/kg to 3.05 mg/kg. Like all other Mamba species, the toxicity of individual specimens within the same species and subspecies can vary greatly based on several factors including geographical region and even the weather and altitude (Ernst and Zug et al. 1996). Local swelling is variable and sometimes absent after mamba bites. However, patients bitten by the eastern green mamba develop swelling of the entire bitten limb and also show mild haemostatic disturbances (Warrell DA; MacKay et al. 1966). The rare cases of local tissue damage usually resulted from bites on the fingers or the use of a tight tourniquet. This species has caused fatalities among bitten humans. The mortality rate of untreated bites is unknown but is thought to be high.