Head to head
Montpellier Snake vs Boomslang
Montpellier Snake
VS Boomslang
The Montpellier snake of the Mediterranean and the boomslang of Africa are two rear-fanged venomous snakes that must chew to work venom into their prey.
| Montpellier Snake | Boomslang | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Malpolon monspessulanus | Dispholidus typus |
| Size | Around 2 metres long, and occasionally more, one of the largest snakes in Europe | 1 to 1.6 metres long, slim and lightly built for climbing |
| Appearance | An olive to brown back, blotched in the young, a pale yellow belly, and prominent ridges above its eyes | Highly variable, from bright green to brown, grey, or black, with greener males and browner females, and exceptionally large eyes |
| Fangs | Venom fangs at the back of the mouth, so it must chew to deliver venom | Large, grooved fangs set well back in the jaw, with the snake often chewing to work venom in |
| Danger to people | Its venom is generally mild to people, though a bite should still be treated seriously | Haemotoxic venom that disrupts blood clotting, with symptoms and bleeding that can be delayed 24 hours or more |
| Diet | Lizards, small mammals, birds, and other snakes | Chameleons and other lizards, frogs, small birds, eggs, and occasionally small mammals |
| Habitat and range | Dry scrub, rocky slopes, and sandy ground around the western Mediterranean, including Iberia, southern France, and North Africa | Savanna, bushveld, lowland forest, and karoo scrub in sub-Saharan Africa, wherever there are trees and shrubs to hunt in |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, and locally reduced by road deaths and habitat loss | Least Concern |
Montpellier Snake vs Boomslang: common questions
Which one is more dangerous to people?
The boomslang, whose haemotoxic venom disrupts blood clotting, while the Montpellier snake's venom is generally mild to people.
Which one lives in trees?
The boomslang, which is slim and lightly built for climbing and has exceptionally large eyes for hunting in foliage.
What does rear-fanged mean?
It means the venom fangs are at the back of the mouth, so the snake has to chew to deliver venom into its prey.