Toxic and deadly African snakes

Some of the deadly African snakes at Snake Park in Nairobi, Kenya, include the Black Necked Spitting Cobra, the Black Mamba, the Green Mamba, and the Puff Adder.

The Black Necked Spitting Cobra (Naja nigricollis) is glossy black and grows up to 2.7 metres (9 feet) long. It lives along the coast and in semi-desert lands. It eats toads, chicken eggs, lizards, and other snakes. It lays from 8-20 eggs per clutch. It is venomous – its venom is cytotoxic (poisonous to cells) and neurotoxic (poisonous to the nervous system).

The Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a long slender olive, brown, or grey snake, growing up to 3.2 metres (10.5 feet) long. It likes high bushlands at about 1600 metres (5249 feet) above sea level. It is a very fast moving snake that can climb trees. It is active during the day (diurnal). It eats mice, rats, bats, elephant shrews, squirrels, birds, and other snakes. It lays 6-17 eggs per clutch. The Black Mamba is both neurotoxic and cardiotoxic (affecting the heart), causing paralysis.

The Green Mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps) is a large thin bright green snake, growing up to 2.3 metres (7.5 feet) long. It lives in coastal bush, moist savanna, and evergreen hill forests. It is a fast moving tree snake, active during the day. It eats birds, rodents, and bats. It lays up to 17 eggs per clutch. The Green Mamba has a potent neurotoxic venom.

The Puff Adder (Bitis arientans) is Africa’s most dangerous snake – producing cytotoxic venom. It is a brown or grey viper with V-shaped light rings and a broad triangular head, growing up to 1.9 metres (6 feet). It lives in many habitats from sea level to about 2400 metres (7874 feet) above sea level. It is nocturnal (active at night), but sometimes active during rainy days. It is slow moving, usually moving in a straight line. The Puff Adder eats small mammals. It gives birth to live young.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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