Stats

Lifespan

11-20 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Carnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Tropical savanna

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa

Movement

Slithering

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Venom

Status

Rare

About

The longest venomous snake in Africa, reaching up to three metres. Despite the name, its body is brownish-grey; the 'black' refers to the inky interior of its mouth, flashed in a striking threat display.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling

   A miniature snake emerges from the egg or from its mother (live-bearers), already venomous or strong-coiled in some species.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile sheds its skin, grows quickly, and hunts smaller prey than the adults.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult length and pattern.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Elapidae

Genus

Dendroaspis

Species

Dendroaspis polylepis