We have recently returned from a holiday to Kenya where my husband took a photo of this snake we came across on our travels. We didn't stay near it for too long as we were aware that it could dangerous. Click the link to see the picture, please let me know if you know what it is.
http://photos.yahoo.com/robh2310
2007-05-07 09:31:52 · 26 answers · asked by alison h 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
If you keep clicking the photo you will be able to view a bigger picture.
2007-05-07 09:56:27 · update #1
It's a small pic but that looks suspiciously like a black mamba (named after the colour inside their mouths not the colour of their skin) and yes, they are VERY dangerous and renowned for being VERY bad tempered. Try http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/Fyredra/Black_mamba.jpg for a comparison.
2007-05-07 09:38:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Hmm, this looks suspiciously like the infamous Black Mamba (so called because the inside of the mouth is very dark grey to black, not the skin).
Black Mamba's have a coffin shaped head (cannot see the overall shape well from your photo), and are slim bodied tree snakes and can grow up to 4 metres.
Do you have any other photos?
2007-05-10 01:32:58 · answer #2 · answered by Chris W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The colouration, large eye and the 'grin' clearly identify this snake as a black mamba.
They are the most feared snakes in Africa and your husband had a close encounter judging by the proximity of the snake to the camera. Mambas (especially the black mambas) are known for their trucculent and aggressive attitude.
2007-05-07 22:58:40 · answer #3 · answered by George 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its scales look a bit small to be a black mamba but it does look similar. It also look like and African tree snake but these are normally greener in colour. Not sure what else it could be but both of the above are venomous to varying degree's. Check google images for the above two types of snake and see which you think it is. It is not a Tree Boa as it doesn't have stripes or white markings.
2007-05-07 09:46:22 · answer #4 · answered by Tom S 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am a zoologist, and if I was in the bush and saw that snake I would identify it right away as a black mamba. They're fairly big snakes - a couple of metres in length. Grey, slender, with that penetrating stare... Black mamba alright. They're pretty aggressive too, so you're lucky you got away safe and sound.
2007-05-07 23:51:27 · answer #5 · answered by Alyosha 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll go with the crowd saying Black Mamba. Most snakes are quite shy of humans but your bad boy seemed to be quite bold in behaviour. Mambas do not fear people.
As the others have said, yes: really really really dangerous.
2007-05-07 22:18:21 · answer #6 · answered by 13caesars 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It appears to have round eyes, and round pupils, therefore it is a Black Mamba. One of the most feared of all snakes, big trouble if molested. Disneyworld next time ??
2007-05-09 05:35:32 · answer #7 · answered by ED SNOW 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a black mamba (because of the colour inside the mouth). Very poisonous, and extremely irritable. They can move at about 15 mph. Best left alone - Lucky you got close to it and survived with a picture!
2007-05-07 10:19:14 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Definately a mamba by the shape of the head
2007-05-07 23:40:23 · answer #9 · answered by chillipope 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm no herpetologist, but that is the spitting image of a black mamba. If it is, then yes, it is very dangerous. Neither the mamba nor this one has markings that would make identification easier. Did it open its mouth? If the inside of its mouth was black, then is almost certainly is a black mamba, Dendroaspis polylepis.
2007-05-07 09:53:51 · answer #10 · answered by Bullet Magnet 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋