Jameson's mamba

Jameson's mamba
Jameson's mamba
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Elapidae Subfamily: Elapinae Genus: Dendroaspis Schlegel, 1848 Species: D. jamesoni
Binomial name
Dendroaspis jamesoni (Traill, 1849)
Distribution of D. j. jamesoni and D. j. kaimosae
Synonyms
Dendroaspis jamesoni jamesoni Elaps jamesoni Traill, 1843 Dendraspis angusticeps Duméril, 1856 Dendraphis jamesoni Günther, 1858 Dendraspis welwitschii Günther, 1865 Dinophis fasciolatus Fischer, 1885 Dendraspis jamesonii Boettger, 1888 Dendraspis welwitschii Günther, 1895 Dendraspis jamesonii Boulenger, 1896 Dendraspis angusticeps Boulenger, 1897 Dendraspis neglectus Barboza Du Bocage, 1903 Dendroaspis jamesoni Schmidt, 1923 Dendroaspis jamesoni jamesoni Loveridge, 1936 Dendroaspis jamesonii jamesonii Mertens, 1941 Dendroaspis jamesoni jamesoni Broadley, 1991 Dendroaspis jamesoni Welch, 1994 Dendroaspis jamesoni Chirio & Ineich, 2006 Dendroaspis jamesoni kaimosae Dendroaspis jamesoni kaimosae Loveridge, 1936 Dendroaspis jamesoni kaimosae Dobiey & Vogel, 2007

The Jameson's mamba (Dendroaspis jamesoni), also known as Traill's green mamba and Jameson's green mamba, is a quick, highly arboreal and highly venomous species of snake native to Africa. It belongs to the genus Dendroaspis and the family Elapidae. The species has two subspecies, the nominate subspecies Dendroaspis jamesoni jamesoni, which will be the main subspecies described in this article, and the second subspecies Dendroaspis jamesoni kaimosae. In describing the nominate subspecies, the second subspecies D. j. kaimosae will also be described as they are both very similar snakes. The main difference between the two subspecies are the scalation and geographical distribution. D. j. kaimosae occurs in the eastern part of this species' geographical range, which is why it is called the East African Jameson's mamba.

Etymology

The Jameson's mamba was first described by Traill in 1849. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek word - Dendroaspis meaning "tree asp" (dendro is "tree", while aspis is "asp" which is understood to mean a "venomous snake") and the etymology of the name "jamesoni" is unknown.

Description

This species is a long, slightly compressed, very slender bodied snake with a medium length tapering tail that is often yellow in colour. This large and arboreal snake have a average length of 1.5 m (4.92 ft) to 2.2 m (7.22 ft), but they can grow up to 2.7 m (8.86 ft) and around 20-30% of the total length is the tail. They tend to be very similar to the Western green mamba in colouration and like the Western green mamba, the scales of the body of this species have black edgings as well. They are usually a dark green, but lighter yellowish green specimens are also common. The ventral side is usually either pale green or yellowish in colour. Jameson's mamba's have a narrow and elongated head is, with a distinct canthus and slightly distinct from the neck. Like the Western green mamba, the neck may be flattened when the snake is aroused, but there is no real hood. The eyes are medium in size with round pupils. Dorsal scales are oblique, smooth and narrow.

Scalation

Dendroaspis jamesoni jamesoni:
Dorsal scales at midbody 15-19, Ventrals 210-235, Subcaudals 94-122, Subcaudals are Paired, Anal plate is Divided, Upper labials 7-9, Preoculairs 3, Postoculairs 3, Lower labials 8-10, Temporales 2+1 variable.

Dendroaspis jamesoni kaimosae:
Dorsal scales at midbody 15-19, Ventrals 209-227, Subcaudals 94-113, Subcaudals are Paired, Anal plate is Divided, Upper labials 7-9, Preoculairs 3, Postoculairs 3-5, Lower labials 9-11, Temporales 2+3 variable.