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Boomslang

Reptiles

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The boomslang (Dispholidus typus) is a highly venomous tree snake native to sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from West Africa through Central and East Africa to the southern part of the continent. Though it is a rear-fanged colubrid rather than a front-fanged viper or elapid, its potent hemotoxic venom disrupts blood clotting and can cause fatal bleeding in humans, even though the snake is typically shy and reclusive and bites are rare. It shows strong sexual dimorphism, with males usually bright green and females duller brown, and its unusually large eyes and egg-shaped head are distinctive. It preys mainly on chameleons and other arboreal lizards, along with frogs, birds, and small mammals, and is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

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