Jameson's mamba

Jameson's mamba
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Dendroaspis
Species:	D. jamesoni
Binomial name
Dendroaspis jamesoni (Traill, 1849)[1][2]
Synonyms
Traill's green mamba

The Jameson's mamba (Dendroaspis jamesoni), or Traill's green mamba, is a very quick, highly arboreal and highly venomous snake of the family Elapidae.

Geographical distribution and habitat

Jameson's mamba occurs mostly in central Africa and some parts of eastern Africa and western Africa. They can be found all the way from northern Angola eastwards towards Zambia, north to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi, South Sudan, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea.^[3][1]

Habitat

Found in primary and secondary rainforests, woodland and thickets in elevations up to 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) high. An adaptable species, they will persist in areas where there has been extensive deforestation, providing there are still some thickets and trees to hide in. They're also often found atop buildings in villages, in town parks, or even around farmlands.^[3]

Physical description

This species is a long, slightly compressed, very slender bodied snake with a medium length tapering tail that is often yellow in colour.^[3][4] The average length of an adult snake of this species is approximately 1.65 meters (5 ft 5 in), but they can grow as long as 2.7 meters (8 ft 10 in).^[3][5] They are slightly larger than the Eastern green mamba, but smaller than the Western green mamba, and much smaller than the Black mamba. They tend to be very similar to the Western green mamba in colouration and like the Western green mamba, the scales of the body of this species have black edgings also. They are usually a dark green, but lighter yellowish green specimens are also common. The ventral side is usually either pale green or yellowish in colour.^[4] Jameson's mamba's have a narrow and elongated head is, with a distinct canthus and slightly distinct from the neck. Like the Western green mamba, the neck may be flattened when the snake is aroused, but there is no real hood. The eyes are medium in size with round pupils. Dorsal scales are oblique, smooth and narrow. Dorsal scale count is 17 (15 or 19) - 17 (15) - 11 (13).^[3]

Behavior, diet, and predators

This species is highly arboreal, moreso than any other mamba species, descending to the ground only in pursuit of prey. Like other mamba's, they are diurnal.^[3] Jameson's mamba, like other mamba species, will try to use their speed to quickly flee from a perceived threat or use their agility to out-maneuver a predator or a threat and then flee, usually high up in a tree.^[6] However, they are very alert, highly nervous and high strung snakes. Like any other mamba species, if the Jameson's mamba feels that it is cornered or if their threat is persistent, they will become very explosive and aggressive. They will lift their heads up off the ground, hiss loudly, and strike repeatedly.^[6]

Diet and predators

Jameson's mamba will actively pursue their prey, similar to a other mamba species. When prey is caught, they will strike rapidly and often until the prey succumbs to the venom.^[3] Since this species is highly arboreal, birds make up a large portion of their diet. Small mammals such as mice, rats, and bats and small lizards are also prey upon.^[7]

The main predators of this species are humans and various birds of prey.^[6] Other predators may include the honey badger, other snakes, and different species of mongoose may also occasionally prey on the Jameson's mamba.^[8]

Venom

Like other mamba's, the venom of the Jameson's mamba is an highly neurotoxic venom. It's other components include cardiotoxins,^[9] and fasciculins.^[3] The average venom yield per bite for this species is 80 mg, but some specimens may yield as much as 120 mg in a single bite. The SC LD₅₀ for this species ranges from 0.42 mg/kg—1.0 mg/kg (Ernst and Zug et al. 1996).^[7][10] Envenomation by a Jameson's mamba can be deadly in as little as 30 to 120 minutes after being bitten, if proper medical treatment is not attained.^[11] However, the average death time for untreated bite victims is between 2-4 hours post-envenomation.^[7] The mortality rate of untreated bites is not exactly known, but it's said to be high (50-70 percentile range, which is the same for the Western green mamba and the Eastern green mamba).^[7][3]

Subspecies

Subspecies[2]	Taxon author[2]	Common name	Geographic range
D. j. jamesoni	(Traill, 1820)	Jameson's mamba	Throughout much of central Africa including Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Sudan, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, and northern Angola
D. j. kaimosae	(Loveridge, 1936)	Black-tailed Jameson's mamba	Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

External links

• Youtube.com - Black-tailed Jameson's Mamba milking of venom
• IMMEDIATE FIRST AID - Immediate first aid in case of Jameson's mamba bite

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Reptile-Database (Jameson's Mamba)
2. ^ ^{a b c} ITIS Taxonomy Report
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Clinical Toxinology Resource (Dendroaspis jamesoni)
4. ^ ^{a b} Africa's Venomous Snakes
5. ^ Cincinnati Zoo (Jameson's Mamba)
6. ^ ^{a b c} Burton, Robert (2002). International Wildlife Encyclopedia: Leopard - marten. USA: Marshall Cavendish. pp. 3168. ISBN 0761472770. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d} Zug, George R. (1996). Snakes in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book. Washington D.C., USA: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. ISBN 1560986484. 
8. ^ Mattison, Chris (1987-01-01). Snakes of the World. New York: Facts on File, Inc.. pp. 164. 
9. ^ van Aswegen G, van Rooyen JM, Fourie C, Oberholzer G. (May 1996). "Putative cardiotoxicity of the venoms of three mamba species.". Journal of Wilderness and Environmental Medicine 7 (2). PMID 11990104. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11990104. 
10. ^ LD50 Menu (Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry)
11. ^ Davidson, Terence. "IMMEDIATE FIRST AID". University of California, San Diego. http://drdavidson.ucsd.edu/Portals/0/snake/Dendroa1.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-10.