Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Another one...

Anyone know how to post multiple shots in one post?

oops forgot the pic

Just below the text box when posting a message or reply is a link titled "(Tools and Toys)".
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

Nice picture, keep them coming!

I'd especially like to see a picture of a large black mamba in a defensive position (with some sense of scale). I've heard all the stories about chestface etc. bites that these snakes can deliver but I've yet to see a photo with something in it for scale reference that shows just how high off the ground those things can position themselves.

How long is that one? 11ft? I notice how its looped your left hand like a branch it seems somewhat comfortable with you but hard to tell from one photo.

Thankyou.

I've been very interested in this same phenomenon, how polyepsis scores so many infamous face/chest-high bites. On Animal Planet I remember one of the shows (I think Corwin) where a frisky mamba was a good three feet off the ground, but no higher. My guess was that a 5-6 foot high "position" might be more of an attack lunge than something even a big mamba usually maintains for more than a moment. Although in "The Snakebite Survivors' Club" Jeremy Seal records the old mistaken-for-a-tree, high-as-a-coat-rack mamba stories, so if true that would be something I'd love to see in a pic.

i would assume that the lack of pics might be due to the fact that when standing face to face with a mamba, taking a photo might not be on the mind.

very impressive and beautiful snake. its one species i love to see in other collections but im not sure ill have one in mine.

Yes, but it would be interesting to see a large mamba in a defensive position with something for scale in it like a chair or gallon jug etc.

I agree that a snake that can position and hold 3feet off the ground could perhaps lunge up to 5 feet which would reach chestface depending upon the individuals height or uneven ground etc.

I suspect a number of face bites are likely caused by the mamba being in low branches....but in parts of africa if the person in only a little over 5 feet tall the face is within reach.

Ok here is a pic with a size ref

2.2m mamba , I am 6'2

Mambas will not stand as high as cobras, face and neck bites typically happen in two situations, mamba is up a tree or person is kneeling (I saw a mamba bite to the top of the head with a sugar cane worker, she was knelt over).

Hope this helps

don

Same animal up a try, the hood height is the same as it would be on the ground, but you see how a bite to the face/head could happen

Thanks to D. Rosenberg for the pic

don

here it is

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