GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Tree snakes (boomslange) are found throughout South Africa and are prominent residents of the Western Cape.
The snake is usually found in trees and shrubs, hence the name boomslang or tree snake.
Here is some information about the tree snake:
- Size - Average length of 1-1.5m but can reach 2m.
- Colour - Males in this region are usually blackish or greyish above with body scales edge with yellow and yellow bellies. Females are usually brown or olive, but often greyish black with pale creamy white bellies. Hatchlings and juveniles are light grey to brown with small blue spots on the front part. They have green eyes. At about 1m they will change to the adult colouring.
- Habits - Active by day. It will spend much of the time in trees and bushes, but will also bask and forage on the ground. Found in a majority of habitat throughout South Africa – fynbos, karoo, savanna and forests.
- Behaviour - It is an inoffensive snake, but will inflate the neck when annoyed. It is often attracted to farms and gardens that contains aviaries. In trees it poses no threat to humans as it is extremely reluctant to bite and bites are rare. If disturbed it will normally flee into the nearest tree or bush where it is difficult to spot. If there is no place to hide it will inflate the neck and immediate surroundings to twice the normal size. The bright colour skin will then be displayed. Eventually the whole body will be inflated and the snake will bite forward or to the sides. It has extremely good eyesight. When prey comes close it will lift the head and freeze. The only noticeable movement will be small waves on the side of the neck. Its prey consist of chameleons, tree lizards, frogs, birds and their eggs.
- Venom - Haematoxin. The fangs are situated at the back of the mouth, but it can open the mouth 170 degrees. It is capable to give an effective bite anywhere on your body. The bite is a medical emergency. It compromises the blood clotting mechanism, causing uncontrolled bleeding if not treated within 24 hours. Victims must stay in hospital for at least 48 hours.
- Treatment - There is a monovalente antivenom that is very effective but it is not locally available and will have to be ordered from Tygerberg hospital. Victim must immediately be taken to hospital. Always keep the patient calm, clean the wound with water and no cutting or sucking the wound. Remove rings, watches, shoes, belts. Alert hospital.
- Reproduction - Oviparous. In spring to midsummer it will lay eight to 14 eggs in hollow tree trunks, leaves and any dark/safe place. Hatchlings are between 29 and 38cm long.
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