Dendroaspis Viridis Venom (Western Green Mamba Venom)

Description

Dendroaspis Viridis Venom | Western Green Mamba Venom:

Dendroaspis Viridis Venom | Western Green Mamba Venom is extracted from a snake called Dendroaspis Viridis.

More details about Dendroaspis Viridis Venom | Western Green Mamba Venom:

Venom is a highly potent mixture of rapid-acting presynaptic and postsynaptic neurotoxins (dendrotoxins), cardiotoxins and fasciculins.

Taxonomic Classification:

About Dendroaspis Viridis Snake:

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.

Taxonomy:

The western green mamba was first described by the American herpetologist and physician Edward Hallowell in 1844 as Leptophis viridis, from a specimen collected in Liberia.

The specific name viridis is the Latin adjective “green”.

In 1852, Hallowell described Dinophis hammondii from two specimens of western green mambas collected in Liberia, naming it for his friend Ogden Hammond of South Carolina.

These were later deemed by Belgian-British zoologist George Albert Boulenger to be the same species.

Scalation:

The number and pattern of scales on a snake’s body are a key element of identification to species level.

The western green mamba has 13 rows of long and thin dorsal scales at midbody, fewer than any similar species. Each is double the length of the ventral scales.

There are 211 to 225 ventral scales, 105 to 128 divided subcaudal scales, and a divided anal scale.

Its mouth is lined with 7 to 9 supralabial scales above, the fourth and sometimes fifth one located under the eye, and 9–10 sublabial scales below.

Distribution and habitat:

The western green mamba is native to West Africa from Gambia and southern Senegal to Benin, including the intervening countries (from west to east) Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Ghana, and Togo.

It is common in Togo, found as far north as the Alédjo Wildlife Reserve, though may theoretically be found in Sarakawa and Djamdé forests in the Kara Region.

Records from Nigeria are dubious, and reports from the Central African Republic are more likely to be misidentification of Jameson’s mamba.

Behaviour and ecology:

Mostly diurnal, the western green mamba spends most of its time in the forest canopy, at times at considerable height, though on occasion commonly go to the ground.

When it wants to sleep it seeks out tree branches that offer dense cover. It generally retreats if encountered.

The oldest recorded western green mamba was a captive specimen that lived 18.7 years.

Breeding:

The species lays a clutch of 6 to 14 eggs.

Diet and predators:

The western green mamba generally hunts in trees though can also hunt on the ground. It preys on birds and small mammals, including rodents and squirrels.