Reptiles · Squamata · Colubridae
Boomslang
Dispholidus typus
Least Concern
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
The boomslang, also known as the Cape tree snake, is a species of alethinophidian snake of the family Colubridae. Its name means "tree snake" in Afrikaans and Dutch. It is relatively large, at 1 to 1.50 m in length. It is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, and has different colour phases depending on the area. Males are more colourful than females, and the feature they share is that they have the largest eye of any snake, which is also a bright green that is very striking in young individuals.
Weight
3.8 kg on average
Size
1 m – 2 m
Life expectancy
12 years
