Last time in Namibia I photographed a snake. Can anyone tell me wha kind it is?

I believe that is a black mamba!
I killed 1 in Namibia in 09 & that's what mine looked like.
Danged if you were not lucky to not get bit.
Very fast & very aggressive.

Hell, even the picture scared me. Ugly, Ugly

Mamba mamba mamba. If not then still get out of the way.

Name that snake?

Its Pedro



SSR

Sure looks like a Black Mamba.

Thanks for the quick replies. I actually thought it might be a mamba but was not sure. I was in a tower box blind with a black tracker and when I showed him he did not seem to concerned. I was quite safe as I was about ten feet in the air and I watched the snake until I was sure he left the area.

I'd have ended its life with my rifle. One shot, two pieces of snake.

That's a BFS....

That's a BFS....

As in....

Big F'ing Snake

Agree with the mamba assessments!

The markings on the head would indicaate its not a Mamba but a sand or grass snake . Generally harmless and toxin very mild.

I love the BFS comment

Looks like a mamba to me. However to be sure pick it up and look in it's mouth. If the inside of it's mouth is black and it's got rear fangs it's a mamba.

The other way to know for sure is that after it bites you, you die.

In Idaho, we only have one poisonous snake and that is a rattlesnake. Anything else is fair game to catch, examine, and turn loose in a safe area.

In Namibia, I wouldn't touch any snake for love or money. Just too many of the wrong kind, and I can't remember them all!

Here is a real mamba that we encountered last month in Namibia, on our way to Okahandja and the desert. He got load tested with the Cruiser; and when my partner realized just the back half was injured, he got back in the van..



Here's one that was in our garden every day while at Erindi Game Preserve. We have heard them called "whip snakes" before, and they are reportedly non-poisonous. Who wants to find out the hard way???



Cute little guy tho, isn't he?

The second snake is the Yellow Bellied Sand Snake, a harmless non poisonous unsociable little chap that will bite you consistently when handled, unlike the common grass snake which after one or two nips will allow itself to be messed about with.

Definitely not a Mamba, wrong colour and the head is a give away. This is one of the sand snakes.

quote:

Originally posted by zimguide:
Definitely not a Mamba, wrong colour and the head is a give away. This is one of the sand snakes.

More like a Mole Snake the pointed snout which puts it in the class of burrowing snakes gives it away - also harmless.

Definitely not mamba. Harmless back fanged grass snake.

Psammophis leightoni namibensis

Definitely not Pedro...that's Fred - for sure.

Not a black mama, but I make it a policy not to mess with snakes over there. I am very familiar with most north American varieties but Africa is a whole nother thing.

quote:

Originally posted by Antlers:
Definitely not Pedro...that's Fred - for sure.

Sorry but as a FRED I resent being characterized as a snake....perhaps a "George?" or a " Sidney?"

Nyoka Mbaya SANA

A woose snake.

Have a look at the most dangerous 15 in the world 11 are in Aus.


You just need to sort them out in your own special way.

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:
Name that snake?

Its Pedro



SSR

quote:

Not a black mama

Nope, it's not one of those...

BobS

The snake is a Olive Grass Snake found all over Southern Africa and is Harmless to man ... sorry guys but it is not a mamba ..

I have a simple system. If it's not rattling, it's a cobra.

This black mamba came to a knife fight and I brought an elephant gun. Nicked the side of the neck.



This is the end to avoid at all costs. His name comes from the inside of the mouth.

Sheesh Mike! I blew the head off 1 close to that size & still did not like holding it up by the tail.