The western green mamba (Dendroaspis viridis) is a venomous West African snake. Despite its name, the western green mamba is not green but a pale yellow or olive color. If you’ve ever been curious about this lithe predator, you’ve come to the right place.

The western green mamba is a member of the “big four,” a group of snakes responsible for most snakebite fatalities in Africa. It is known for its slender body, which can grow up to 8 feet (2.5 meters), and its distinctive bright green inner mouth. It can live for up to 18 years.

This article will explore everything you need to know about the western green mamba, including its habitat, behavior, and favorite meals. We’ll also talk about which of the mamba relatives is the deadliest.

How Venomous is a Western Green Mamba?

The western green mamba is one of the most venomous snakes in the world. Its highly toxic venom contains a potent neurotoxin that causes severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, and paralysis. A bite from a western green mamba can be deadly if left untreated. 

However, with prompt medical attention and antivenom treatment, the chances of survival are good.

With this in mind, you’d be within your rights to wonder if this slithering predator attacks humans regularly. Fortunately, it is not common for western green mambas to bite humans. They are generally reclusive and prefer to avoid contact with humans. 

They are more likely to bite if they feel threatened or if a human accidentally steps on or touches them. You should be cautious around any venomous snake and give it space, as all snakes have the instinct to protect themselves and will bite in self-defense if they feel threatened. 

If you encounter a western green mamba in the wild, slowly and calmly move away from the snake, as sudden movements may startle it and cause it to become defensive.

Where Does the Western Green Mamba Live?

The western green mamba is native to West and Central Africa. It is found in various habitats, including rainforests, woodlands, and savannas. While this serpent is often found in dense vegetation areas, it remains in deforested areas, provided it can find sufficient vegetative cover.

Countries you can expect to bump into the western green mamba include Senegal, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Gabon. However, their contact with humans is limited for the reasons I highlighted earlier.

The western green mamba is a highly arboreal snake that predominantly stays and hunts for birds and small mammals in trees. Still, it’s similarly capable on land. It moves fast and is well adapted to life in the trees, with a slender, agile body and a long, prehensile tail that it uses to grasp branches.

The snake’s arboreal nature means that its life is spent in trees, including mating. These snakes mate around April, and the females lay clutches of about a dozen eggs that hatch by the next March. 

What Does the Western Green Mamba Eat?

Since the western green mamba is carnivorous, it feeds on a variety of prey, including birds, small mammals, animal eggs, and occasionally reptiles. Its arboreal lifestyle keeps it on trees, where it hunts its prey. 

The western green mamba is a venomous snake that uses its venom to subdue its prey. It will bite its prey, inject it with venom, and then wait for it to take effect before consuming the animal. 

This deadly mamba is well adapted to its carnivorous cravings, with a very flexible jaw that enables it to swallow prey much larger than its head. 

It is a solitary hunter and will usually hunt on its own, although it has occasionally been observed to hunt in small groups.

Which Is the Most Venomous Snake in the World?

The inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus), also known as the “fierce snake,” is the most venomous snake in the world, as per LD50 tests on mice. A drop of its venom is enough to kill up to 100 adult humans, and death can occur within 45 minutes of being bitten.

Inland taipan venom is highly toxic owing to its potent mix of neurotoxins and an enzyme it uses to spread rapidly through the victim’s bloodstream.

Fortunately, the fierce snake is only fierce due to its venom. Its temperament is relatively subdued, unlike its cousin, the coastal taipan, and snake keepers consider it one of the easiest snakes to handle.

Additionally, the inland taipan is diurnal and spends a huge chunk of its days hidden in its desert habitats, making encounters with humans few and far between.

This snake has bitten only a handful of humans, and they all survived following prompt medical attention and antivenom treatment. 

That being said, the inland taipan has protective instincts like any other animal. 

If it feels cornered, it’ll lift its head and wind the top half of its body into a tight S-shape. If the perceived aggressor doesn’t retreat, the inland taipan will inflict a single bite or a series of bites in rapid succession.

Symptoms of inland taipan envenomation include the following. 

• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Headache
• Dizziness 
• Collapse
• Paralysis

It is critical to seek medical attention as soon as one is bitten by an inland taipan, as symptoms and death can occur within 30 to 45 minutes.

What To Do if a Black Mamba Bites You

If a black mamba bites you, seek medical attention immediately, as the venom of the black mamba is highly toxic and can be deadly if left untreated. Additional steps include remaining calm, removing constricting items, immobilizing the affected area, and following professional medical advice.

After seeking emergency services, note the time of the bite so that healthcare professionals can apply the necessary treatment depending on the duration of the envenomation.

Not panicking reduces your heart rate and slows the venom’s spread through your body. Immobilizing the affected area and generally remaining still also result in this outcome. To this end, the victim should walk as little as possible.

If you are wearing tight clothing or jewelry, remove it to prevent swelling around the bitten area. Additionally, keep the affected area above heart level.

Get to a hospital as soon as possible. Black mamba venom is highly toxic, and you will need prompt medical treatment to prevent serious complications or death. Call for help or have someone drive you to the nearest hospital or medical facility as soon as possible.

Once you reach the hospital, follow the instructions of the medical staff and take any prescribed medications as directed.

Are Green Mambas Aggressive?

Green mambas are not aggressive but will retaliate violently and aggressively if they feel threatened. They are generally reclusive and prefer to avoid contact with humans. Unless stepped on or otherwise cornered, they won’t bite humans or non-prey animals.

Which Mamba Is the Deadliest?

The most venomous mamba species is the black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis). It is native to Africa and is one of the deadliest and fastest snakes in the world. Its venom is highly toxic and can cause symptoms in 10 minutes and death within 7 to 15 hours of being bitten.

Symptoms of black mamba envenomation include the following. 

• Drooping eyelids
• A metallic taste
• Bulbar palsy
• Constricted pupils and blurry vision
• Tingling sensation in the skin
• Slurred speech

Because of this venom’s toxicity, it is vital to get medical attention as soon as one is bitten.