Jameson's mamba
A highly venomous snake of equatorial Africa.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Jameson's mamba (Dendroaspis jamesoni) is a species of highly venomous snake in the family Elapidae, native to equatorial Africa. Described by German naturalist Hermann Schlegel in 1849, it is a member of the mamba genus Dendroaspis and has two recognised subspecies. The species is slender, with dull green upper parts and cream underparts, and generally ranges from 1.5 to 2.2 m in total length. It is predominantly arboreal, preying mainly on birds and mammals, and its venom consists of both neurotoxins and cardiotoxins, with fatalities recorded within three to four hours of being bitten.
- Scientific name
- Dendroaspis jamesoni
- Family
- Elapidae
- Length
- 1.5–2.2 m (4.9–7.2 ft)
- Subspecies
- 2 (nominate and eastern black-tailed)
- Venom potency
- Variable; the eastern subspecies is sometimes reported as more potent, but this is not a widely recognized fact
- Type species of genus
- No (the type species is Dendroaspis angusticeps)
- Described by
- Hermann Schlegel in 1849
Lore & Background
Jameson's mamba is agile and can flatten its neck in mimicry of a cobra when threatened. It is generally not aggressive and will attempt to escape. Males fight each other for access to females during the dry season in Nigeria, and mating was recorded in September in Kenya. The female lays 5–16 eggs, with clutches recovered from abandoned termite colonies. Its diet consists mainly of birds and tree-dwelling mammals, and smaller individuals have been recorded feeding on lizards and toads. Predators include birds of prey such as the martial eagle and bateleur, as well as the honey badger and other snakes. The venom is highly neurotoxic, with symptoms including pain, swelling, chills, sweating, abdominal pain, vomiting, slurred speech, difficulty breathing, and paralysis.
Reader's Guide
Jameson's mamba is significant as a medically important venomous snake in Sub-Saharan Africa, classified as a Snake of Medical Importance by the World Health Organization. Although snakebite records are few, field observations in the Niger Delta indicate peak human-snake activity during the rainy season from April to August, making this a peak period for snakebite. Workers in palm oil plantations have perished from falling from trees after encountering the snake in the canopy. In countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, poor infrastructure and lack of facilities hinder access to antivenom. The species is also notable for its taxonomic history, serving as the type species for the genus Dendroaspis, and for the significant difference in venom potency between its two subspecies. Its adaptability to deforested and developed areas underscores its resilience, while its arboreal nature and green coloration have made it difficult to study in the field. The venom's composition of three-finger toxins and dendrotoxins places it among the most dangerous mambas, with the eastern subspecies' venom being particularly potent due to higher concentrations of neurotoxin-1.
Did You Know?
- Jameson's mamba was described by Hermann Schlegel in 1849, and the type species for the genus Dendroaspis is the eastern green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps).
- The claim that the venom of the eastern subspecies (D. jamesoni kaimosae) is more than twice as potent as the nominate subspecies is not a widely recognized fact in reliable herpetological sources.
- The species is named after Robert Jameson, the Regius Professor of Natural History at the University of Edinburgh.
- The eastern green mamba is often considered the most arboreal mamba, not Jameson's mamba.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jameson's mamba?
Jameson's mamba (Dendroaspis jamesoni) is a slender, highly venomous elapid snake native to equatorial Africa. It was first described in 1843 by Scottish naturalist Thomas Traill and serves as the type species for the entire genus Dendroaspis.
How big does Jameson's mamba get?
Adults typically measure between 1.5 and 2.2 metres (about 4.9 to 7.2 feet) from snout to tail tip. They have a notably slim build, with dull green upper surfaces and pale cream underparts.
Where does Jameson's mamba live and what does it hunt?
This predominantly arboreal snake inhabits the forests of equatorial Africa, spending much of its time in the canopy where it stalks birds and small mammals. Two recognised subspecies exist: the nominate form and the eastern black-tailed form.
How dangerous is a Jameson's mamba bite to humans?
Its venom blends neurotoxins with cardiotoxins, and untreated envenomations have been fatal within roughly three to four hours. The eastern black-tailed subspecies carries venom approximately twice as potent as that of the nominate subspecies.
Why is Jameson's mamba taxonomically significant?
It is the type species of the genus Dendroaspis, so the very name of that mamba genus was originally anchored to this snake. It also sits within the family Elapidae, the same family that includes cobras, coral snakes, and other well-known venomous species.
More in Extant Reptiles & Amphibians 1-22
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record