The venomous African tree snake whose name comes from Afrikaans for “tree snake” is the boomslang.
“Boomslang” literally combines Afrikaans boom, meaning “tree,” and slang, meaning “snake.” The name suits Dispholidus typus, an agile, predominantly arboreal snake native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is also a Dutch expression, reflecting the close historical relationship between Afrikaans and Dutch.
The boomslang is a highly venomous member of the colubrid family, a large group that includes many harmless species as well as dangerous rear-fanged snakes. It has large eyes and excellent vision, adaptations useful for moving through branches and locating prey such as birds, eggs, chameleons and other small animals.
A common misconception is that every green tree snake is a boomslang. Colour varies widely, and some harmless African snakes can resemble it. The boomslang’s venom is primarily hemotoxic: it interferes with blood clotting and can cause severe internal bleeding. Because its fangs are positioned toward the rear of the mouth, bites are uncommon but medically serious.