Slithering through the trees in Africa, the boomslang lives up to its name. "Boomslang" means "tree snake" in the African language of Afrikaans. This long, slender serpent hangs out in tree branches and uses its unusual fangs-mounted in the rear of its mouth-to kill prey. The boomslang slithers up on prey without being noticed and strikes without warning, filling a victim's blood with deadly toxins.
Color Coded: The color of the boomslang's scales reflects its surroundings. Males are green (sometimes with black or blue highlights) and females brown, either color blending in with leaves or bark so prey won't see the snake coming.
Muscle Bound: The boomslang is a long, skinny snake, but its body is rippling with muscles underneath the scales. Gripping a branch with its tail, this snake can hold more than half of its body rigid in the air when slowly approaching prey.
Rear Mounted[]
This long, thin tree snake attacks with up to three sets of fangs.
Unlike most venomous snakes, the boomslang's fangs are set toward the back of its jaws. This position gives the fangs less leverage to stab into victims, but they're attached to more muscle than front fangs and are able to pierce the toughest skin of prey. The boomslang can open its mouth up to 180° when striking, and can hold victims in its jaws using curved teeth behind its fangs. The snake "chews" to release venom from its glands, which slides down grooves in the back of the fangs, enters the bite wound and spreads into the victim's bloodstream.
Man-Killer: Most "rear-fanged" snakes aren't very dangerous to people, but the boomslang is an exception. This snake's venom causes so much internal bleeding in human victims that an adult can die within 24 hours of being bitten.
Get a Grip: The boomslang usually attacks prey by surprise, but this snake can chase after prey with great agility. Its scales are ridged, giving its body great control as it slithers over (and under) branches at top speed.
Hunting a Hunter[]
- A boomslang slithers through a tree and spots a chameleon a short distance ahead. Very slowly, the snake slithers outward, holding its body straight as it extends from its branch and closes in on the prey.
- As quickly as the chameleon would snatch a fly, the boomslang strikes and snags the lizard from its perch. The snake makes chewing motions with its jaws to release as much venom into the victim as possible and kill it quickly.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The boomslang is one of two colubrid snakes featured, along with the Twig Snake.