Subhasis Banerjee

GREEN MAMBA The Green Mamba is a highly venomous snake species of the mamba genus Dendroaspis native to the coastal regions of southern East Africa. First described by Scottish surgeon and zoologist Andrew Smith in 1849, it has a slender build with bright green upper-parts and yellow-green under-parts. Like other mamba species, Green Mamba venom is among the most rapid-acting venom of snakes. Human fatalities as a result of bites from this species are rare due to the fact that this species does not often cross paths with humans but bites have occurred and the majority of the recorded bites have been fatal . The Green Mamba is native to regions near the coastlines of southern Africa and East Africa. The Green Mamba's range extends from Kenya south through Tanzania, Malawi and eastern Zimbabwe. It can also be found in Zanzibar and northern Mozambique. Courtship and mating generally takes place in the trees, after which the female lays 10 to 15 eggs which usually oc...

RATTLESNAKE Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae . There are 36 known species of Rattlesnakes with 65 to 70 subspecies. Rattlesnakes received their name from the ‘rattle’ located at the end of their tails, which makes a loud rattling noise when vibrated that deters predators or serves as a warning to passer-by. However, rattlesnakes fall prey to hawks, weasels, king snakes and a variety of other species. Rattlesnakes are heavily preyed upon as neonates, while they are still weak and immature. Large numbers of rattlesnakes are killed by humans. Rattlesnake populations in many areas are severely threatened by habitat destruction, poaching and extermination campaigns. Rattlesnakes are predators that live in a wide array of habitats, hunting small animals such as birds and rodents.

KING SNAKE King Snakes are colubrid New World constrictors, members of the genus Lampropeltis , which includes milk snakes and four other species. Among these, about 45 subspecies are recognized. Lampropeltis  includes the Greek words for "shiny shield". The name is given to them in reference to their smooth, enamel-like dorsal scales. Their common name of "King Snake" derives from their habit of eating other snakes. The several species vary widely in size and coloration. Adult scarlet King Snakes are typically 40 cm to 50 cm (16 inch to 20 inch) in length, while the common King Snake can grow up to 1.8 m (6 ft). Some King Snakes are coloured in muted browns to black, while others are brightly marked in white, reds, yellows, grays and lavenders that form rings, longitudinal stripes, speckles, and saddle-shaped bands. King Snakes use constriction to kill their prey and tend to be opportunistic in their diet; they eat other snakes (ophiophagy) incl...