This snake has all of the signs of a non-venomous species, from its long and
athletic body (up to 7 feet), small head, and round pupils. But the snake is
among the most venomous species in the world. The snake's innocuous appearance
can fool even more experienced snake connoisseurs, which often ends poorly,
and not for the snake. Fortunately, green mambas tend to be solitary and
withdrawn creatures that prefer to avoid biting. They will hiss, posture up,
and even expand their body to appear larger and intimidate their attackers.
Make no mistake, though, this reptile is not known to flee the scene if
things get spicy. Instead, it prefers to bite when threatened, and it can
inflict multiple bites in rapid succession. The venom can cause respiratory
and cardiac failure, which leads to a swift death. If you ever travel to
sub-Saharan Africa, in areas like Kenya and Tanzania, look for a bright-green
snake with prominent scales and a black splash at the base of the tongue.
If you succeed in finding one, flee the scene calmly and graciously.