Boomslang: Difference between revisions
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== Behavior and diet == |
== Behavior and diet == |
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Boomslangs are [[diurnality|diurnal]] and largely [[arboreal]]. Their [[diet (nutrition)|diet]] includes [[chameleon]]s and other arboreal [[lizard]]s<ref name=eb/>, [[frog]]s, and occasionally small [[mammal]]s, [[bird]]s, and [[egg (biology)|eggs]] from nesting birds,<ref name=eb/> all of which they swallow whole. During cool weather they will [[hibernation|hibernate]] for moderate periods, often curling up inside the enclosed [[bird nest|nests]] of birds such as [[Ploceidae|weaver]]s. |
Boomslangs are [[diurnality|diurnal]] and largely [[arboreal]]. Their [[diet (nutrition)|diet]] includes [[chameleon]]s and other arboreal [[lizard]]s<ref name=eb/>, [[frog]]s, and occasionally small [[mammal]]s, [[bird]]s, African children and [[egg (biology)|eggs]] from nesting birds,<ref name=eb/> all of which they swallow whole. During cool weather they will [[hibernation|hibernate]] for moderate periods, often curling up inside the enclosed [[bird nest|nests]] of birds such as [[Ploceidae|weaver]]s. |
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== Venom == |
== Venom == |
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Revision as of 16:07, 16 February 2011
| Boomslang | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
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| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Genus: | Dispholidus
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| Species: | D. typus
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| Binomial name | |
| Dispholidus typus (Smith, 1829)
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A boomslang (Dispholidus typus) is a relatively small, venomous colubrid snake native to sub-Saharan Africa.[1] It is currently the only species in its genus, although several species and subspecies have been described in the past. Its name means "tree snake" in Afrikaans and Dutch[2] ("boom" meaning tree (a cognate of "beam" which means a long and large piece of wood, generally a support in a building), and "slang" meaning snake). In Afrikaans the name is pronounced [buˑomslʌŋ]. The snake is thought to be closely related to members of the genera Thelotornis, Thrasops, Rhamnophis, and Xyelodontophis, with which it forms the tribe Dispholidini.[3]
Reproduction
Boomslangs are oviparous. The eggs have a relatively long (3 months on average) incubation period. Hatchlings are greyish with blue speckles. They attain their adult coloration after several years.
Behavior and diet
Boomslangs are diurnal and largely arboreal. Their diet includes chameleons and other arboreal lizards[1], frogs, and occasionally small mammals, birds, African children and eggs from nesting birds,[1] all of which they swallow whole. During cool weather they will hibernate for moderate periods, often curling up inside the enclosed nests of birds such as weavers.
Venom
Many members of the family Colubridae that are considered venomous are essentially harmless to humans, because they either have small venom glands, relatively weak venom, or an inefficient system for delivery of venom. However, the boomslang is a notable exception in that it has a highly potent venom, which it delivers through large fangs that are located in the rear of the jaw.[1] The venom of the boomslang is primarily a hemotoxin. It disables the blood clotting process and the victim may well die as a result of internal and external bleeding.[1][4] Other signs and symptoms include: headache, nausea, sleepiness and mental disorders.
Because the venom is slow to act, symptoms may not be manifest until many hours after the bite. On the one hand, this provides time for procuring the serum, while on the other hand it may lead victims to underestimate the seriousness of the bite. Snakes of any species may sometimes fail to inject venom when they bite, so after a few hours without any noticeable effects, victims of Boomslang bites may believe (wrongly) that their injury is not serious.
An adult boomslang has 1.6–8 mg of venom.[5] Various sources give figures ranging from 0.06 - 0.72 mg/kg being sufficient to kill mice in 50% of cases, if the venom reaches a vein (LD50).[6]
In 1957, well-known herpetologist Karl Schmidt died after being bitten by a boomslang. D.S. Chapman states that between 1919 and 1962 there were eight serious human envenomations by boomslangs, two of which were fatal. The South African Vaccine Producers (formerly South African Institute of Medical Research) manufactures a monovalent antivenom for use in boomslang envenomations.
The boomslang is a timid snake and bites generally occur only when people attempt to handle, catch or kill the animal. The above data suggest that boomslangs are unlikely to be a significant source of human fatalities throughout their distribution range.
In popular culture
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- Shredded skin of a boomslang is one of the ingredients to make the Polyjuice Potion in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
- The venom of the boomslang also features in the Agatha Christie thriller, Death in the Clouds (pub.1935), featuring her famous detective, Hercule Poirot.
- In Stephen King's short story, "Autopsy Room Four", the main character is bitten by a fictional snake called a "Peruvian Boomslang". King says he got the name from Death in the Clouds, mentioned above.
- A distillation of boomslang venom is combined with dimethyl sulfoxide to create a contact poison that is the murder weapon in an episode of Quincy, ME.
- A character named Boomslang is a Marvel Comics supervillain.
- In A King's Trade by Dewey Lambdin, one of Captain Alan Lewrie's black sailors runs away while anchored in South Africa and is killed by a boomslang.
- A popular jungle, dub-step and drum and bass night hosted at the Junction, Cambridge.
- Johnny Marr and the Healers first album was entitled "Boomslang"
- There is a computer mouse named after the snake, also called the Boomslang, manufactured by the Razer Company, Ltd.
References
- ^ a b c d e Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2007.
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. 1989.
- ^ Broadley, Donald (2002). "Review of the Dispholidini, with the description of a new genus and species from Tanzania (Serpentes, Colubridae)". Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Zool.). 68 (2): 57–74. doi:10.1017/S0968047002000079.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Kamiguti, AS (2000). "Mass spectrophotometric evidence for P-III/P-IV metalloproteinases in the venom of the Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)". Toxicon. 38 (11): 1613–20. doi:10.1016/S0041-0101(00)00089-1. PMID 10775761.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ LD50 for various snakes
- ^ Stephen P. Mackessy: Biochemistry and Pharmacology of Colubrid Snake Venoms. J. Toxicol.—Toxin Reviews 21 (1&2), 2002: pp. 43–83 online PDF
Boomslang is the title of a 2003 album by former Smiths guitarist and songwriter Johnny Marr, credited to Johnny Marr and the Healers.
External links
