Differences between the Green Mamba & the Boomslang

The boomslang is widely distributed throughout lowland forests and savannas of sub-Saharan central and southern Africa. Green mambas have smaller distributions. The western species is found along the southern portions of West Africa in tropical rainforests and woodlands, while the eastern green mamba resides along the eastern coast of Africa, south from Kenya to South Africa, in woodlands and coastal bushlands.

Boomslangs come in various shades of green, from dusty olive to bright green, and blend in well with their surroundings. This snake’s scales are very large and keeled – meaning ridged -- giving him a rough appearance. The scales are outlined in black. Green mambas, both the eastern and western species, are vivid, glossy green. Some specimens of western green mamba have keels outlined in black on their heads, but the scales are smooth. The three species are similar in length, with the western green mamba averaging 6 feet long, about a foot longer than the other two species.

These are three highly toxic snakes. The boomslang’s venom is hemotoxic (affecting the blood) and stops blood from clotting. He can fold his fangs into his mouth when he’s not using them, and he appears to chew his prey when he bites. This snake is in the family Colubridae. The venom of green mambas contains neurotoxins and cardiotoxins (affecting the brain and heart, respectively) that cause death by respiratory paralysis. Mambas are in the Elapidae family, most of which are venomous.

All three of these snakes are arboreal, spending most of their lives in trees. They will come down to forage, to hunt prey or to find water. The boomslang even mates in trees. Mambas mate on the ground, and males compete for females by engaging in twisting, wrestling rituals than can last for hours.