Boomslang

Dispholidus typus

 Description:

            The Boomslang can reach up to 5 ft. long and some are capable of reaching lengths over 6 ft. The color variations of this snake are the greatest of any other snake in the afrotropic regional habitat, with the males usually being light green with black to bluish scale edges and females usually being brown. An unusual characteristic about this snake other than its eyes being very large is that its head is egg-shaped.  Located in the back part of this head, there are a set of folding fangs, which deliver hemotoxic venom. Hemotoxic venom disables the clotting factors of the blood and causes the victim to die from both internal and external bleeding. The Boomslang is one of the very few Colubridae family, which usually consists of Kingsnakes.

Habitat and Distribution:

            The Boomslang is located throughout the countries of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. They are found in a variety of different habitats ranging from savannah and scrub to grasslands and forests. However with this snake be arboreal they are not found in areas that lack trees or in deserts.

Diet:

            Boomslangs are active, diurnal hunters that will feed on chameleons and other lizards, birds, and frogs. Small mammals are also eaten but far less compared to that of the over prey. Although we think of this snake as being a top predator, the Boomslang does have a few predators of its own including birds of prey as well as other Boomslangs.

Behavior:

            These Colubrids are very active snakes, as stated earlier they are arboreal constantly moving about the trees. However they will move to the ground to hunt or bask but once they are disturbed they will find the closet tree to climb. When it feels threatened the Boomslang will inflate its neck to make it look twice as big and if it still feels threatened the whole body will be inflated. Once inflated it will move in a jerky motion both forward and sideways. As stated before the Boomslang’s fangs are located in the back of the mouth, but with it being able to open its mouth 170^o it makes it capable of delivering a painful bite.

Reproduction:

            Boomslangs are oviparous and usually lay 8-14 eggs, but as many as 27 have been observed. Unlike most other snakes they mate in trees and eggs are normally laid in tree trunks or fallen logs in late spring to mid-summer. Average lifespan for a Boomslang is 8 to 9 years.