green mamba
Definition
- Noun:
- A highly venomous snake species: The "green mamba" is a specific, common name for a large, arboreal, and extremely venomous snake found in parts of eastern and southern Africa. It is distinct from the black mamba.
- A color phase of another snake: In some contexts, "green mamba" can refer to the juvenile or a particular color phase of the black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis), which is green before maturing to its characteristic grey or brown color.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The guide warned us that a green mamba might be hiding in the canopy. (The guide warned us that a highly venomous snake might be hiding in the tree tops.)
- While young, the black mamba can be mistaken for a green mamba due to its coloration. (In its juvenile stage, the black mamba's green color can cause confusion with the separate green mamba species.)
Advanced Usage
- In herpetology: The term is used precisely to differentiate between the East African green mamba () and the West African green mamba (), which are separate species from the black mamba.
- In common parlance: The name is often used generally for any large, green, tree-dwelling venomous snake in Africa, though this is technically inaccurate.
Variants and Related Words
- Black mamba (n): A different, closely related species of mamba, typically grey or brown, known for its speed and potent venom.
- Mamba (n): The common name for snakes of the genus , all of which are fast, venomous, and native to Africa.
Synonyms
- Dendroaspis angusticeps: The scientific name for the East African green mamba.
- Dendroaspis viridis: The scientific name for the West African green mamba.
Related Phrases
- Arboreal snake: A tree-dwelling snake, which describes the green mamba's primary habitat.
- Front-fanged venomous snake: A description of the green mamba's method of delivering venom.
Related Idioms
- The term "green mamba" is a specific zoological name and is not typically used in idiomatic expressions.
Noun
-
green phase of the black mamba
