This is a brief presentation about the most dangerous snakes found in Botswana.

1. SNAKE
AWARENESS
PREPARED BY KABELO LOSIKE
11 may 2o17

2. Are elongated, limbless reptiles with
bodies covered with scales
Botswana has fifty eight different types
of snakes. Twenty two species are not
venomous, while seven can inflict rather
painful bites. Nine species are considered
potentially deadly.
SNAKES
SNAKES IN
BOTSWANA

3. • Cytotoxic - cell destroying
• Neurotoxic - acting on nerves
• Hemotoxic -acting on the blood
THOSE
SNAKES FALL
INTO THREE
CATEGORIES

4. • Adders or vipers
• Mambas, cobra and their relatives
• Black fanged and other venomous
snakes
• Fangless and non-venomous snakes
• Blind and worm snakes
TYPES OF
SNAKES

5. • Vision
Snakes have a good eyesight, but is
used mainly for detecting movement.
• Hearing
Snakes cannot hear most airborne
sounds, they pick up ground and air-
borne vibrations
• Snake behavior
In early spring snakes get together to
mate.
SNAKE BIOLOGY
All snakes are to some degree long
and slender and their internal
anatomy is elongated

6. • Smell
the forked tongue of snake cannot
harm or sting its an organ where the
information is interpreted.
• Speed
the black mamba, is one of the faster
southern African snakes, barely
reaches 20kph and, because the
oxygenating the blood is slow
• Sloughing or shedding
Shedding of the outer layer of skin
occurs often as 4-8 times a year

7. LOCOMOTION
AND SPEED

8. • Snouted cobras: elapidae (Naja
annulifera) can exceed 2m when fully
grown.
• Defense
similar to the Cape cobra, it lifts the front of
the body erect and spreads its hood.
• Food:
the diet includes rodents, frogs, reptiles and
young birds.
• Habitat
Prefers the eastern and north-eastern parts
of Botswana where it is wetter and warmer
than the south and western areas
• Reproduction: Oviparous
• Venom: Neurotoxic.
MOST
DANGEROUS
SNAKES IN
BOTSWANA

9. • Mozambique spitting
cobra(Naja mossambica) reaches1.5m
and colour varies from a grey to dark
brown. More active at night.
• Food: the diet includes rodents, frogs,
reptiles and young birds and puff
adders.
• Habitat: Often found near water and
prefers the warmer climates of
southern Africa
• Reproduction: oviparous

10. • Black mamba( dendronspis polyesis)
Black Mamba is a large, streamlined snake with
a narrow, coffin-shaped head and smooth
scales in 23-25 oblique rows.
• Food
terrestrial snakes eat birds and small mammals
like rats and dassies
• Habitat
It resides in savannah and open coastal bush,
usually below 1,500 meters. In Botswana, Black
Mamba are found in most places except the
Kalahari desert
• Reproduction
May have 10-25 eggs
Venom: neurotoxic

11. • Boomslang ( Dispholidus typus) can grow to
2m long. In Botswana the female is a mid-
brown with a slightly paler underbelly. The
male is medium to dull green. The eyes of this
snake are noticeably larger than other snakes
and the rough keeled scales make this an easy
snake to identify. They are one of very few
snakes in the world able to see stationary
prey/predators. Diurnal.
• Food: they eat birds and their eggs,
chameleons, frogs and lizards
• Habitat: arboreal and occur through most of
southern Africa except very arid areas.
• Reproduction: Oviparous and lay 8 to 25 eggs
• Venom: haemotoxic, attacks red blood cells
and prevents blood clotting.

12. • Cytotoxic venom
Puff adder, Mozambique spitting cobra
Polyvalent antivenom
• Neurotoxic venom
Black mamba, snouted cobra
Polyvalent antivenom
• Haemotoxic venom
Boomslang
Vine snake
Monovalent antivenom
ENVENOMATION

13. • Avoid long grass
• Always look for concealed snakes
before picking up rocks, sticks or
firewood
• Do not touch or disturb a snake, even
if it appears dead.
• Wear boots and long pants
WAYS TO
AVOID
SNAKEBITES

14. THE END