Central and Southern Africa 



southern Xatal ami iKHtheasterii Cape Province. It is 

 found on the island of Zanzibar. 



Rc>iiaih.s: This si)e(ies and the more dangerous black 

 mamba were confused for many years. The sreen 

 maniba is much more arboreal, seldom found on the 

 ground. It is shy and avoids man if possible. Its 

 venom differs in many ways and is only about half as 

 toxic as that of the black mamba. 



A polyvalent antivenin (mamba) is jiroduced by the 

 South African Institute for Medical Research. .Tohannes- 

 burg. 



Jameson's Mamba, Demlrodfspts jamesoni (Traill ) . 



Mentificution: A mainly green tree snake with scales 

 usually edged in black, the overall coloration becoming 

 darker jiosteriorly. with the tail entirely black in some 

 individuals. It differs from the harmless bush-snakes 

 i Philiithaiiunis) , and from the rear-fanged boomslang 

 {DinplKilidiix), with which it may be confused, in lack- 

 ing the loreal .scale and in having smaller eyes ; and 

 from the bush snakes too in the darker coloration and 

 the absence of lateral keels and notches on the ventrals. 

 It differs from the black mamba tf). fiohjlvpis) in hav- 

 ing black edging on the scales and fewer dorsals and 

 ventrals. Adults average G to 7 feet in length: a record 

 is 8 feet, 1 inch (Schmidt. V.VSA: 131). 



Dorsals in 1.V19 rows at midbody. the same number 

 or more (l.")-10) on the neck, fewer. (11-13) jiosteriorly. 

 Ventrals 210-2.39; subcaudals !)<)-121. 



Figure 57. — Jameson's Maniba. licndroaxpis jamvsoiii. 

 This individual demonstrates the typical alert pose 

 of mambas. Photo by New York Zoological Society. 

 (See also plate VII, figure 10.) 



Di.ftrihiilioii: The troi>ical rain forest region from 

 western Kenya and Tanganyika to Guinea and Angola. 



Rrmarhs: This mamba is found both on the ground 

 and in bushes: however little has been rep(U'ted on its 

 liabits. 



A piilyvalent antivenin for its bite (maniba) is iire- 

 pared by the South African Institute for Medical Re- 

 search. .Tobaniiesburg. 



Black Mamba, J>eti(J ronxi>!x poIf/Jep/'-t Giiiither. 



Idciiti/ii-dtiiiii : Adult snakes are olive brown to dark 

 gunmetal gray. However, hatchlings are grayish green 

 or olive and this has caused the black mamba to be con- 



fused with the eastern green and Jameson's mambas that 

 share parts of its range. The canthus is particularly 

 sharp in the black mamba and the head is impressively 

 high in large individuals. This large, relatively slender, 

 and very fast-moving snake is not readily confn.sed with 

 any nonvenomous species. It dilTers from other mambas 

 in being darker, in having a bluish gra.v to blackish 

 color inside the month, and more dorsal scale rows 

 and more ventral scutes. The forest cobra, Xaja wrlan- 

 oIciK-a. differs in having a prominant hood and very 

 glossy scales. Adults average !) to 10 feet: the record 

 length is about 14 feet. 



Dorsals in 21-2."> rows at midbod.v, the same number 

 or more on the neck (2'>), fewer (1,">-10) posteriorly. 

 Ventrals 242-282: subcaudals 10.5-131. 



FiniKK .IS.- Hlack .Mamlia. I)cii<lni<txiii.i iinhilrpis. The 

 sharply-detiiied canthus rostralis is plain here. Photo 

 by Xew York Zoological Society. (.See also plate III, 

 figure 1; plate VII, figure 11.) 



Disliihiilioii: Inhabits low-lying (below 4,000 feet) 

 open bush country from Kthiopia and Somalia, avoiding 

 the western rain forest region, southward to Xatal and 

 South-West Africa, 



Remarks: This snake is found in trees and bushes 

 less often than the other mambas. It is one of the 

 fastest snakes known, and has been clocked at slightly 

 over 7 miles per hour, or perhaps twice as fast as the 

 fastest Xorth American snake. It gives the impre.ssion 

 of great speed and in .some of the older literature it was 

 reported to "exceed the speed of a running hor.se." A 

 recent publication estimates the speed at "probably not 

 exceeding 20 mph." 



It is certainly one of the most dangerous snakes now 

 living. Although it ordinarily makes for its hole when 

 disturbed, it is ready to light if suddenly disturbed. 

 The typical altitude of alert defense is with the head 

 raised well off the ground, mouth slightly agape (show- 

 ing the black lining) and tongue flicking rapidly from 

 side to side. Xo other mamba shows such jieculiarities. 

 When angered, the snake emits a hollow-sounding hiss 

 and spreads its neck. It is said to strike out for 40 

 liercent of its length : the average snake strikes out for 

 2."> to 30 percent. 



A large black mamba secretes encmgh venom to kill 

 ') to 10 men and few people survive its bite unless anti- 

 venin is administered promptly. The venom inhibits 



93 



