Dendroaspis angusticeps
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
The eastern green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps) is a highly venomous snake species of the mamba genus Dendroaspis native to the coastal regions of southern East Africa. Described by Scottish surgeon and zoologist Andrew Smith in 1849, it has a slender build with a bright green back and green-yellow ventral scales. Adult females average around 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in length, and males are slightly smaller.
In spite of common urban legends and misconceptions labeling the eastern green mamba an aggressive, fast-moving "people-chaser", it is in fact a shy and elusive species that remains hidden in the trees, and is rarely seen. This seclusion is usually attributed to its arboreal habitat and green colouration, which acts as effective camouflage in its natural environment. Even with its deadly venom, the green mamba has to protect itself from predators, including birds of prey and other snakes, such as cobras. It has been observed engaging in ambush predation, a trait seen among many Viperidae species, contrary to the active hunting style typical of other Elapidae snakes. It preys on arboreal and winged animals, such as birds and their chicks and eggs, bats, and arboreal rodents such as mice, rats, and gerbils.
Eastern green mamba venom consists of both neurotoxins and cardiotoxins. Symptoms of envenomation include swelling of the immediate bite-wound area, dizziness, vertigo and nausea, accompanied by dehydration, labored breathing and difficult swallowing. This eventually will develop into arrhythmia and convulsions—all progressing to respiratory paralysis, which results in a fatal lack of oxygen to the brain. Bites that are severe if not immediately treated on-site can quickly prove deadly. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durban | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabarceno Natural Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 2 | Dvůr Králové Zoo | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 3 | Zoo Pilsen | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 4 | Columbus Zoo and Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Sedgwick County Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Dallas Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | National Zoological Garden of South Africa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 8 | Toledo Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | ABQ BioPark Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | San Antonio Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Tierpark Hagenbeck | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 12 | Cameron Park Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 13 | Crocworld Conservation Centre | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 14 | Zagreb Zoo | 🇭🇷 Croatia | |
| 15 | Alligator Adventure | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 16 | Reptile Gardens | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 17 | Bois du Petit-Château | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | |
| 18 | Hartbeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 19 | Riverbend Crocodile Farm | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 20 | Two Oceans Aquarium | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 21 | Reptiland | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 22 | National Reptile Zoo | 🇮🇪 Ireland | |
| 23 | Reptilia | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 24 | Reptilienzoo Nockalm | 🇦🇹 Austria |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Green Mamba sighting in Durban on a given day, based on 14 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 19th most-seen of the 27 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Green Mamba in Durban on a given day, against under 5% in July–October and December–January, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eastern Green Mamba sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Only Durban, in our data
Durban is the only city on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Eastern Green Mamba sightings: about 10% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Eastern Green Mamba is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Durban (14 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
