boomslang
-
/boohm"slahng, -slang/, n.a venomous, tree-dwelling snake, Dispholidus typus, of tropical and southern Africa, having black to greenish scales.
* * *
Venomous snake (Dispholidus typus) of the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, the only species of its family that is decidedly dangerous to humans.When hunting, it lies in wait in a bush or tree for chameleons and birds; the forepart of the body often extends motionless into the air. The boomslang's body and eye colours are extremely variable and provide excellent camouflage. In defense it inflates its neck, showing the dark skin between the scales, and then may strike. Its venom causes hemorrhages and can be fatal to humans in small amounts.
Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)Dade Thornton from The National Audubon Society CollectionPhoto Researchers/EB Inc.* * *
▪ snake(Dispholidus typus), venomous snake of the family Colubridae, one of the few colubrid species that is decidedly dangerous to humans. This moderately slender snake grows to about 1.8 metres (6 feet) in length and occurs in savannas throughout sub-Saharan Africa. When hunting, it lies in wait in a bush or tree for chameleons and birds; the forepart of the body often extends motionless into the air.Its body and eye colour are extremely variable, and camouflage is excellent. In defense the boomslang inflates the neck, showing the dark skin between the scales; it then may strike. It is rear-fanged, but the fangs are set relatively far forward in the mouth. The venom causes hemorrhages and can be fatal to humans in small amounts.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Boomslang — Systematik Unterordnung: Schlangen (Serpentes) Überfamilie: Nattern und Vipernartige (Co … Deutsch Wikipedia
boomslang — ● boomslang nom masculin Couleuvre venimeuse arboricole d Afrique, longue de 2 m. (Le boomslang est opisthoglyphe, mais une structure spéciale des mâchoires lui permet de piquer dangereusement l homme et les gros animaux.) … Encyclopédie Universelle
Boomslang — [afrikaans] die, / s, Dispholidus typus, bis 2 m lange Trugnatter auf Sträuchern und Bäumen in Afrika; die Boomslang ist auf der Oberseite grün oder graubraun, auf der Unterseite gelb gefärbt; ihr sehr wirksames (Fibrinogen zersetzendes) Gift… … Universal-Lexikon
Boomslang — For other uses, see Boomslang (disambiguation). Boomslang Conservation status … Wikipedia
Boomslang — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Animaux Le Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) est un serpent venimeux. Objets La Boomslang est une souris de la marque Razer. Personnages Boomslang est un sup … Wikipédia en Français
Boomslang — Boom|slang die; , s <aus gleichbed. afrikaans boomslang, dies aus niederl. boomslang »Baumschlange«> bis 2 m lange Trugnatter auf Sträuchern u. Bäumen in Afrika … Das große Fremdwörterbuch
boomslang — noun A highly venomous snake found in sub Saharan Africa, Dispholidus typus … Wiktionary
boomslang — boom·slang (b mґslang) Dispholidus typus, a venomous, green to brownish black, arboreal snake found in southern Africa. See table at snake … Medical dictionary
boomslang — noun a large, highly venomous southern African tree snake. [Dispholidus typus.] Origin C18: from Afrik., from Du. boom tree + slang snake … English new terms dictionary
boomslang — boom·slang … English syllables
