Boomslang

species of snakes of genus Dispholidus in the family Lamprophiidae

The boomslang (Dispholidus typus) is a large venomous snake found in sub-Saharan Africa.[1] Its name means "tree snake" in Dutch and Afrikaans. It is a colubrid, the largest family of snakes, found on every continent except Antarctica.

A boomslang

Boomslangs eat small animals like chameleons, frogs, and birds, and they also eat eggs. Like all snakes, boomslangs do not chew – they swallow everything whole.

The venom of boomslangs can disrupt the clotting of blood, and this can kill a person. Even a small scratch can be fatal. After a bite, one can sometimes feel a headache, nausea, sleepiness, and get a mental disorder. This does not happen often, as boomslangs only bite humans when they feel attacked.

Its eyes are large in proportion to its head; they have binocular vision that helps them spot their prey. Its scientific name is Dispholidus typus. A boomslang is a slender snake with large eyes on a large blunt head. The snake can grow to up to 2 metres long, but is on average about 1 to 1.6 m in length.

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