Eastern Green Mamba

The eastern green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps) is an arboreal elapid found in coastal forests and woodlands of East Africa. Unlike the terrestrial black mamba, it spends nearly its entire life in trees, where its vivid green coloration provides excellent camouflage.

It possesses potent neurotoxic venom and is considered medically significant, though it is generally shy and prefers to retreat into dense foliage rather than confront threats.

A slender, elongated snake fully adapted to arboreal life.

• Uniform bright to leaf green coloration, sometimes with a yellowish tinge, providing camouflage in foliage
• Slender body with smooth scales and a long, thin tail aiding balance in trees
• Head is narrow and elongated, only slightly distinct from the neck
• Large eyes with round pupils
• Adults typically 1.8-2.5 m

Restricted mainly to coastal forests, thickets, and woodland of East Africa, including parts of Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Malawi, as well as some offshore islands. It is highly arboreal, rarely descending to the ground except to cross between trees.

Diurnal and an agile climber, hunting birds, eggs, and small arboreal mammals in the canopy. It is generally reclusive, relying on camouflage and rapid retreat into vegetation rather than confrontation, though it will bite defensively if handled or cornered. Reproduction is oviparous, with clutches of roughly 6-17 eggs.