Green Mamba Snake

Green Mamba Snake
By Rajib Singha

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In case you hadn't known, there are two species of the green mamba snake, which include the eastern green mamba snake (binomially known as the Dendroaspis angusticeps) and the Western green mamba snake (known as the Dendroaspis viridis). These mamba species possess venom that roughly equals the potency of the venom of the black mamba. The eastern green mamba snake, as the name suggests, hails from the regions of Southeastern Africa, while the western mamba belongs to West Africa. Compared to the black mamba, which is primarily terrestrial, the green mamba species happen to be less aggressive, smaller and they spend a more arboreal life. For a detailed study on the green mamba snake facts, here is what follows...

Green Mamba Facts

Eastern Green Mamba Snake Facts
The Eastern African green mamba snake, as mentioned above, spends an arboreal life and rarely visits the ground unless driven by preys or the need to bask under the sun. Thickly forested and bush-covered areas such as evergreen forests, mainly make for the green mamba habitat. Apart from these, regions like coastal scrub, moist Savannah, bamboo and mango plantations are also known to home this creature. Like all other snakes, the diet of this reptile also consists of birds' eggs, small birds, rodents, frogs, lizards and small arboreal mammals.

The Eastern green mamba snake is known to be the smallest member of the mamba family. An adult may have an average length of 1.8 meters. However, there have been a few specimens, which were 3.7 m long. A male tends to have a larger size than that of a female. The appearance of the snake, as it has been named, is a glossy grass-green color with a light bright green colored belly. It has a slender built, with a distinct head and a long and thin tail.

The green mamba facts would be incomplete without the mention of the creature's venom. All mamba snakes are highly venomous and so is this species. Apart from containing neurotoxins, the green mamba snake venom is also a composition of calcicludine and dendrotoxin. The potency of the venom is about one tenth of its more famous relative, the black mamba. Also, as the snake bears a smaller size, so the amount of injected venom is lesser. However, neither do these facts make the green mamba snake bite a nonfatal injury, nor does it make the need of immediate medical treatment, less important. Read more on types of snake venom.

Western Green Mamba Snake Facts
The habitat of the western green mamba snake is no different than that of its eastern relative. Rainforests of Western Africa populates this species. Diet consists of birds, bats, squirrels, small rodents, chicks and small mammals. Know more on biggest snake in the world.

While the eastern green mamba is the smallest, this species is the biggest of the arboreal mamba species. It is known to grow up to 140 - 120 cm and sometimes up to a length of 300 cm. This species of mamba snake can be easily distinguished from the eastern one by its large green scales outlined in black. Also, it may bear a variety of colors, ranging from greenish-yellow, olive green, emerald green to sky blue or yellow. Its long tail has yellow scales which are edged in black. A bite from this snake can prove rapidly fatal; incidents have occurred where the venom took only 30 minutes to result in fatality. Other than this, its venom shares similar features as those of its other green cousin.

This should do it for the green mamba facts; where you got some insights on the two main species of the cold blooded creature. On a closing note, unlike, its black cousin, the green mamba snake is shy and reclusive and prefers escaping any trouble rather than countering it. However, it holds on to this behavior unless provoked or threatened repeatedly.