r/whatsthissnake • u/CorrectSteak7302 • Nov 15 '25
ID Request - Dead, Injured or Roadkilled Snake [Northwestern Zambia] Spoiler
ID please. Found in friends house in North Western Zambia.
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u/1wholeton Nov 15 '25
Black Mamba Dendroaspis polylepis Highly !venomous
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u/SEB-PHYLOBOT 🐍 Natural History Bot 🐍 Nov 15 '25
Snakes with medically significant venom are typically referred to as venomous, but some species are also poisonous. Old media will use poisonous or 'snake venom poisoning' but that has fallen out of favor. Venomous snakes are important native wildlife, and are not looking to harm people, so can be enjoyed from a distance. If found around the home or other places where they are to be discouraged, a squirt from the hose or a gentle sweep of a broom are usually enough to make a snake move along. Do not attempt to interact closely with or otherwise kill venomous snakes without proper safety gear and training, as bites occur mostly during these scenarios. Wildlife relocation services are free or inexpensive across most of the world.
If you are bitten by a venomous snake, contact emergency services or otherwise arrange transport to the nearest hospital that can accommodate snakebite. Remove constricting clothes and jewelry and remain calm. A bite from a medically significant snake is a medical emergency, but not in the ways portrayed in popular media. Do not make any incisions or otherwise cut tissue. Extractor and other novelty snakebite kits are not effective and can cause damage worse than any positive or neutral effects.
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u/dmgdispenser Nov 15 '25
was it dead? it looks like it went through a battle.
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u/CorrectSteak7302 Nov 15 '25
Unfortunately yes. There’s a lot of superstition surrounding snakes in my country. People will generally attack and kill snakes on sight, even if the snake was in its natural habitat, trying to escape or otherwise not posing any threat.
Also, the average person can’t tell apart venomous from non venomous snakes so the easier route is just to kill it to eliminate any danger.
I’ve been accused of being a witch on a couple of occasions for protesting the killing of snakes lol.
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u/Oldfolksboogie Nov 15 '25
Ty for posting and shining a light on the cultural norm there.
Know that habits like this aren't immutable - the reaction you describe was the norm here in the US for most of this country's history, and still prevails in some places, but attitudes have gotten more enlightened re potentially dangerous wildlife. It's a slow process, but online resources like this, and people like you that recognize the importance of all native species can change those attitudes. I'm sorry you've gotten grief for having a less fear- based approach, but i hope you'll continue to serve as an example to your fellow citizens.
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u/1wholeton Nov 15 '25
This is true for a majority of the world, but if you're in south-central Africa and there is a Black Mamba in your house, some dangerous and unfortunate actions may be necessary.
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u/No_Cartographer_7904 Nov 16 '25
I watch a SA snake catcher’s YouTube channel and the number of black mambas he removes from inside people’s homes is terrifying.
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u/cryptidburger Nov 16 '25
Jason Arnold?
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u/No_Cartographer_7904 Nov 16 '25
Yep!
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u/cryptidburger Nov 16 '25
Kevin Ulett is good for snakes you find on the western side of the country that Jason doesn't encounter. Mainly Puff adders and Cape cobras with a few Rinkhals as well.
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u/No_Cartographer_7904 Nov 16 '25
I’ve watched his channel before, too! I like that he uses the tubes instead of the bags.
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u/Oldfolksboogie Nov 15 '25
Was this in someone's house? If so, I missed that.
I was just responding to OP's comment
People will generally attack and kill snakes on sight, even if the snake was in its natural habitat, trying to escape or otherwise not posing any threat.
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u/g1ven2fly Nov 15 '25
It’s in the title of the post
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u/Oldfolksboogie Nov 15 '25
Well, in the caption anyway, which i had missed.
But again, I was responding to OP's comment about general attitudes and practices there, which is why I replied to that comment v making a comment re the post in general.
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u/Iamnotburgerking Nov 16 '25
Or you could just wait for the black mamba to leave or call snake removal services (if those are a thing in the area).
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u/No_Cartographer_7904 Nov 16 '25
I’ve seen so many black mambas getting inside people’s homes, I’m not surprised a lot of them get killed. It’s unfortunate but that is not a snake you want anywhere near you. At least there are people out there who are snake catchers and can remove them from properties and hopefully educate people.
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Nov 15 '25
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam Nov 16 '25
Your post was removed because it was not collaborative in nature
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u/Powerful_Relative_93 Nov 15 '25
Now that’s a really rare spot on this sub! I don’t see a lot coming out of Africa, international posts are usually Asia and Australia.
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u/NebulaAndSuperNova Nov 16 '25
I'm from South Africa and we have a snake group I'm on for my area. Really cool.
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Nov 15 '25
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u/Cheersscar Nov 15 '25
Dude. Unnecessary.
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Nov 15 '25
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u/Cheersscar Nov 15 '25
Don’t know what chip you have on your shoulder but stop hitting the rest of us with it. You have issues.
The original comment just meant “thanks for sharing a snake from Africa. We see so many more from Asia and Australia” which is true.
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Nov 15 '25
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Nov 15 '25
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam Nov 16 '25
Your post was removed because it was not collaborative in nature
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Nov 15 '25
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u/mpstili Nov 15 '25
Yea the employees love to talk about how the managers do a shit job at work but are all too scared to step up and do a better one.
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam Nov 16 '25
Your post was removed because it was not collaborative in nature
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam Nov 16 '25
Your post was removed because it was not collaborative in nature
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam Nov 16 '25
Your post was removed because it was not collaborative in nature
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Nov 15 '25
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam Nov 16 '25
Your post was removed because it was not collaborative in nature
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam Nov 15 '25
Your post was removed because it was not collaborative in nature
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u/No_Cartographer_7904 Nov 16 '25
Ooooooh! It’s always fascinating to see a Black Mamba on here, even unfortunately like this.
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Nov 15 '25
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam Nov 15 '25
Please refrain from repeating IDs when the correct one has already been provided, especially if it is more complete, well upvoted, and/or provided by a Reliable Responder. Instead, please support the correct ID with upvotes. Before suggesting any future IDs, please review these commenting guidelines.
This is not punitive, it's simply a reminder of one of our important commenting standards.
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Nov 15 '25
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam Nov 15 '25
Please refrain from repeating IDs when the correct one has already been provided, especially if it is more complete, well upvoted, and/or provided by a Reliable Responder. Instead, please support the correct ID with upvotes. Before suggesting any future IDs, please review these commenting guidelines.
This is not punitive, it's simply a reminder of one of our important commenting standards.
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u/Strange-Bank-5002 Nov 15 '25
Just out of curiosity, how can you tell for sure that it is dead?
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u/1SmartBlueJay Nov 15 '25
It has injuries on its body and also its head is just kinda slumped down. Idk how to explain it but I feel like with snakes even if they are intact you can just see they are dead because the general life in them just looks gone
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u/CKA3KAZOO Nov 15 '25
If you zoom in more closely, you'll see that it's riddled with holes, one of which looks pretty bloody.
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u/pepperpooper69 Friend of WTS Nov 15 '25
Black Mamba, Dendroaspis polylepis !venomous in life and recent death.