Snake Gallery

Boomslang – the most venomous snake in Africa is often not considered very dangerous. Drop for drop the boomslang has the most potent venom of any snake in Africa and the amount of venom that it requires to kill a human is so small that one can barely see it with the naked eye. There are seldom more than one or two boomslang bites a year in South Africa and the victims are often snake handlers. The snake is unlikely to bite and if severely provoked, it will inflate its neck and once it does this it will strike out with intent. The boomslang is back-fanged with short fixed fangs far back in the mouth and, like most snakes, it can open its mouth very wide – up to 170˚- and easily latch onto an arm or a leg. While most venomous snakes have full control over their venom glands, back-fanged snakes have quite primitive glands and to envenomate their prey they need to strike a few times, putting pressure on the venom glands to ensure that venom is released from the duct. It often happens that a boomslang will bite a chameleon, release it, bite it again and repeat the process a few times. This is to make sure that envenomation takes place. It is not uncommon for people to be bitten by a boomslang (or any other snake for that matter) without being envenomated; this is known as a dry bite. Boomslang – the most venomous snake in Africa is often not considered very dangerous. Drop for drop the boomslang has the most potent venom of any snake in Africa and the amount of venom that it requires to kill a human is so small that one can barely see it with the naked eye. There are seldom more than one or two boomslang bites a year in South Africa and the victims are often snake handlers. The snake is unlikely to bite and if severely provoked, it will inflate its neck and once it does this it will strike out with intent. The boomslang is back-fanged with short fixed fangs far back in the mouth and, like most snakes, it can open its mouth very wide – up to 170˚- and easily latch onto an arm or a leg. While most venomous snakes have full control over their venom glands, back-fanged snakes have quite primitive glands and to envenomate their prey they need to strike a few times, putting pressure on the venom glands to ensure that venom is released from the duct. It often happens that a boomslang will bite a chameleon, release it, bite it again and repeat the process a few times. This is to make sure that envenomation takes place. It is not uncommon for people to be bitten by a boomslang (or any other snake for that matter) without being envenomated; this is known as a dry bite.