western green western green known west african green green long thin highly snake genus species described american western green fairly large predominantly species capable navigating trees swiftly descend ground level pursue prey small mammals western green alert nervous extremely snake lives mainly coastal tropical woodland regions western africa like western green highly species venom highly potent mixture rapid acting consider species particularly aggressive snake suggested extremely nervous prone attack aggressively conflict humans low compared species found region bites people species uncommon mortality rate high recorded bites fatal rapid progression severe life threatening symptoms bites bites rapidly fatal case reports rapidly fatal outcomes little minutes recorded species etymology described american physician generic derived means tree understood mean shield denotes cobra simply snake old texts refer reference hood like shield literally means tree snake refers nature species genus described meaning tree cobra specific latin origin means green addition called western green species commonly known west african green green taxonomy western green classified genus family genus described german pointed relationships african genus evidence suggests form solid non coral snake clade description western green long slender bodied snake long tapering tail average length adult snake species metres metres specimens species grow maximum lengths metres head narrow distinct slightly distinct neck rare occasions neck flattened snake aroused hood eyes medium size round pupils yellow brown iris dorsal surface body colour vivid yellowish green green anterior margins scales yellow specimens posterior body tail yellow specimens dorsal body scales distinctly bordered black forming shaped markings black skin clearly visible especially highlighting individual head scales scales tail head similar dorsal surface anterior body colour slightly darker green head scales particularly distinctly black edged usually paler slightly yellowish viewed black scales black skin result appearance head throat ventral surface colour pale yellowish yellowish green head body tail western green distribution habitat western green native west_africa different sources slightly different ranges generally agree occurs southern including intervening countries west east guinea guinea known northern limit distribution occur forests northerly region records nigeria unreliable presence similarly unclear sources mention southern tip border western western green live mainly coastal tropical woodland regions western africa majority records western green continuous forest guinea records isolated forests species areas tree cover removed providing sufficient remain found suitably suburbs towns largely confined areas rainfall exceeds millimetres range extends drier open forests north west zone conservation status species classified concern iucn red list threatened species conservation status species assessed july published classed wide distribution fairly habits stable population lack major threats behaviour ecology species active night snake commonly ground fact equally home hunting feeding prey ground trees wants sleep seeks tree branches offer dense cover quick extremely alert nervous snake confronted quickly attempt escape usually tree possible avoid sort confrontation western green highly dangerous display aggression loudly striking repeatedly diet predators western green natural prey consists mainly birds small mammals including mice rats mammals include bats tree feed frogs bird eggs snake pursues prey striking rapidly prey venom western green large highly snake natural predators humans birds prey snake main threats venom western green venom similar members genus differs composition venom consists mainly pre post venom vary depending factors including diet geographical location age dependent change factors species respectively anderson study determined venom administered mice route test mice administered western green venom route experimental reported average wet venom yield like species western green venom rapid acting venom snakes human fatalities result bites species rare fact species cross paths humans bites occurred majority recorded bites fatal species green including western green venom similar comparable species green bites present severe life threatening symptoms shorter period time mortality rates higher green bite victims cobra bite victims bites documented rate bites fatality known appears bites attributed species produce severe bites caused eastern green far severe bites caused black symptoms rapidly begin manifest usually minutes extraordinary speed venom spreads tissue produces rapid life threatening symptoms unique common symptoms bite western green include local pain swelling uncommon local moderate difficulty breathing low blood pressure left new severe symptoms rapidly progress symptoms victim eventually dies resulting respiratory muscles bites rapidly fatal case reports rapidly fatal outcomes little minutes recorded species
Western green mamba