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10 Most Venomous Snakes in Africa!
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Interesting facts about some of Africa’s most dangerous and most venomous snakes!
Black Mamba
- The Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is Africa’s largest venomous snake, reaching an average 2.5 m in length (8 feet). The biggest ones however, can get as long as 4.5 m (14 feet)!
- It is also the continent’s most feared snake.
- Extremely aggressive, it will not hesitate to strike.
- Fast and agile, it reaches speeds of up to 20 km/h (12 mph).
- Despite its name the “black” mamba is not black, but rather brown/olive or brownish-grey in colour.
- The snake has an “inky black” mouth displayed when threatened.
- It has extremely potent neuro and cardio-toxic venom, capable of killing a dozen men in as little as one hour.
- Without anti-venom, the mortality rate for a black mamba is almost 100%.
- Diet-wise, the animal feeds on creatures such as moles, rats, mice, birds, squirrels and other small mammals.
Mozambique Spitting Cobra
- The Mozambique Spitting Cobra (Naja mossambica) is perhaps the most widespread cobra of tropical and subtropical Africa.
- It is considered as one of the most dangerous African snakes, second only to the Mamba.
- As its name entails, the snake can spit (“spray” is perhaps even more accurate) its neurotoxic venom with great accuracy and reach (jets up to 3 m).
- Its bite can cause severe tissue damage (happens rarely; does not necessarily bite), while venom to the eyes can cause impaired vision or even blindness.
- When needed, it can also elevate to as much as two-thirds of its body length.
- May simulate death to avoid further molestation.
Puff Adder
- The Puff Adder (Bitis ariens) is responsible for more fatalities (accounts for +/- 60% of all snake bites) than any other snake in Africa.
- Most common on the African continent and inhabits the majority of regions (except for some deserts and rainforests).
- Since it relies on camouflage to hide itself and lies still when approached, people tend to step on them and get bitten.
- Has very long fangs (12-18 mm).
- Average length is 1 m.
- Moves in a similar fashion to the way caterpillars move.
- When disturbed hisses loudly and forms a tight coil.
- Strikes sideways.
- Can inject between 100 and 350 mg of cytotoxic venom in a single go. The lethal dose for a human is 100 mg of its venom.
- Good swimmer and climber.
Gaboon Viper
- The Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica) is the ultimate ambush snake as it perfectly blends in with leaf cover and surrounding vegetation.
- Ambushes its prey (large birds and some mammals) by standing still, and attacks by surprise.
- Very heavy-bodied (weighs up to 10 kg), and can grow to over 2 m in length.
- Large triangular head, develops two nostril horns with age.
- Has the longest fangs of any snake in the world (records at 50 mm).
Egyptian Cobra
- The Egyptian Cobra (Naja haje) is most commonly found in Egypt, but is in fact the most widespread of African cobras.
- Average size is 1.5-2 m, though some can exceed 2.5 m (8 feet) in length.
- The snake has the third most toxic venom of any cobra, just after the Northern Philippine Cobra and Cape Cobra.
- In fact, its venom is so potent it can kill a fully-grown elephant in as little as 3 hours.
- Some people believe that Cleopatra committed suicide using an Egyptian Cobra.
Saw-Scaled Viper (Carpet Viper)
- Found North of the African Equator, Saw-Scaled or Carpet Vipers (Echis carinatus) are small yet viciously efficient and badly tempered snakes.
- Average adult vipers reach a length of less than a meter (20-30 inch).
- Gets its name from the “sizzling” warning sound it makes as its scales rub together.
- The snake’s venom is hemotoxic and very virulent.
- According to some researchers, the Carpet Viper’s venom is 5 times more toxic than that of the cobra, and 16 times more toxic than the Russell’s Viper (one of Asia’s most deadly snakes).
- Better left alone!
Boomslang
- The Boomslang (Dispholidus typusis) is the most venomous rear-fanged snake in the world.
- It is found in sub-Saharan Africa.
- “Boomslang” comes from the Afrikaans word “tree snake”. It is therefore a “tree-dwelling” snake species.
- Like the Gaboon Viper, the Boomslang’s fangs are very long, and it can open its mouth at a full 180 degrees to bite.
- While fatalities are rare since the species is very timid, its venom is haemotoxic and results in internal bleeding .
- Sexual dimorphism is particularly apparent in Boomslangs: females are brown, whereas males are light green with black highlights.
Cape Cobra
- The Cape Cobra (Naja nivea) has a highly neurotoxic venom believed to be the most potent of all African cobras.
- Beautiful snake that varies both in colour (from yellow to copper/mahogany coloured and purplish/black) and size (average is 4 feet; can grow to 6 feet).
- Mortality rate in humans is +/- 60% if not treated immediately.
- Death normally occurs between 2 and 5 hours after a person is bitten, and is usually the result of respiratory failure due to the onset of paralysis.
Green Mamba
- The Green Mamba is similar to its black cousin in terms of venom composition (only one-tenth as toxic though), yet it differs in colour (glossy grass-green) and size (1.8 m/5.9 feet on average).
- It is also shy and less aggressive than the black specimen, and tends to be arboreal (instead of mainly terrestrial).
- There are two types of green mambas: the Western Green Mamba (Dendroaspis viridis; native to West Africa), and the Eastern Green Mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps; indigenous to the eastern side of southern Africa).
African Bush Viper
- The Bush Viper (Atheris squamigera), sometimes called the “Leaf Viper”, is an arboreal snake species that inhabits the rainforest and woodland habitats of Africa (Congo Basin, Uganda, Kenya…).
- Primarily nocturnal.
- Highly venomous yet relatively passive. Will defend itself when molested.
- Often comes to the ground to feed on small rodents, frogs and lizards. Uses its tail to hang from the low lying branches and unsuspectedly strikes on its chosen meal.
- Usually green but adapts to its environment for survival: olive brown or rusty brown colour not uncommon.
- The Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is Africa’s largest venomous snake, reaching an average 2.5 m in length (8 feet). The biggest ones however, can get as long as 4.5 m (14 feet)!
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January 10, 2010 at 12:28 pm
I am glad that I didn't see any of these while I was camping my way through Africa. That was always my biggest fear. Especially when I had to go to the bathroom.
January 10, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Hey guys!
Talking about bathrooms, back in the days my mother once got an unusual visitor while she was taking a bath (in Burundi). A snake's tail suddenly began to hang from the ceiling…right beneath her eyes! It was a very pretty Boomslang (rather dangerous though), so needless to say she started panicking!
The best part is that we never found the snake after that, although we searched for it throughout the house! Until today, the legend of the "ghost snake" remains…
January 10, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Reminds me of a book called Snake Charmer I read a year or two ago. Great story about a snake researcher, I highly recommend it.
January 10, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Thanks Anil, will have a look at it!
January 10, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Just found another cool video on some of the most venomous snakes in the world! Here it is:
[youtube _LanZgLozR8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LanZgLozR8 youtube]
January 19, 2010 at 6:06 pm
We have been hearing for the past 2 days something that sounds like someone is playing on a flute at the back of a very bushy area on our farm (out in the wilderness of mozambique). Our local worker insists that it is made by a very big black mamba and that they do that often. Does anybody know if this is a fact? Please let us know.
January 19, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Hi Marlene,
That's very weird, have never heard of this story before! Did you search the actual bush (be careful though…)?
Let me come back to you on that one…
Michael
January 19, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Hi again Marlene!
Here's what an expert in snakes, Chris, has to say on the matter:
A Mamba makes a husky whistle sometimes but rarely! Your "flute" sound is more likely an insect of some type though. Or a cat…lol
Could also be a Rinkhaals…they make some funny old noises…they're thanatonic though, so if you approach it it will play dead until you get too confident and get bitten.
Little rectifications on Mambas:
- They are rarely aggressive if threatened, they'd much rather run when encountered.
- The main venom type is Neurotoxic with smaller parts of cyto and haemo in it; it should always be treated as Neurotoxic with Polyvalent antivenom!
January 20, 2010 at 8:24 am
Hi Africa Freak
Thanks for your swift reply. I also doubted the story but our worker is quite insistent. Have lived most of my life in Africa and have never heard of snakes whisteling. The flute sounds more like human action, definitely not husky. I think it could be an Indian Myna. Regarding the rarely aggressive, I must tell you that in this region they are pretty much aggressive. The other day one big mamba even attacked our car when we were driving past it. Perhaps it is the extreme heat or their diet. We have a lot of action regarding snakes in these parts of the woods, they are found quite often near our house, and with 2 kids, a cat and 2 dogs, it is a miracle that nothing serious has happened. Antivenom is not an option in this area and the nearest medical facilities are 45 km away. So it would be properly bye bye if we were to be bitten.
January 20, 2010 at 8:30 am
Hi guys and/or girls, sorry for the spelling mistakes, just saw it, but with age it seems to only get worse, unlike a good red wine!
January 20, 2010 at 12:13 pm
No worries, the spelling mistakes are all gone now; just like magic!
And thanks once again for your interaction, what you have written about is extremely valuable! Can't believe one mamba actually attacked your car; how is that for a scoop? Lol!
Was it a black mamba?
Cheers,
Michael
January 20, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Hi Michael,
Yes, It was definitely a “biggy” black mamba, at least 4m long. My hubby encounters them almost every day out on the farm. We have them all: puff adders, cobras, boomslang, mega big pythons (not venomous, but still dangerous, can easily kill kids and pets). In the last week only, we have seen 9 baby puff adders on our lawn. We had to destroy them unfortunately, because my hubby finds it an unacceptable risk for the kids, and neither he nor our workers are keen on catching them. It is simply too risky especially considering that they do not keep any antivenom in this region, they don’t even have intravenous supplies most of the time. This is still very much dark Africa. But please do not despair, it is still great to live here, especially the kids do better here than in Holland. They both are suffeing from some form of autism but are doing so much better here it is hardly noticeable anymore. Bye for now I will catch you later on again, but thanks for the info.
Marlene
January 20, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Sounds like an interesting farm you have there!
Cheers,
Michael
January 23, 2010 at 6:35 am
Fascinating info…and a bit unnerving. Might be interesting for potential Africa visitors if you could say a few words about how unlikely it is that visitors on safari would ever run into any of these!
January 25, 2010 at 9:12 am
Thanks a lot for the advice, you are absolutely right!
Chances of bumping into such creatures are slim, but they do exist nevertheless. 9 times out of 10 though, if you ever get close to a snake it will flee in no time.