Large-eyed green tree snake
# Large-eyed green tree snake

The large-eyed green tree snake (Rhamnophis aethiopissa), also known commonly as the splendid dagger-tooth tree snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Africa. There are three recognized subspecies.

## Geographic range

R. aethiopissa is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.

## Description

R. aethiopissa may attain a total length (including tail) of 1.5 m (4.9 ft). The dorsal scales, which are smooth, are arranged in 17 rows at midbody.

## Reproduction

R. aethiopissa is oviparous.

## Subspecies

The following three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.

* Rhamnophis aethiopissa aethiopissa Günther, 1862
* Rhamnophis aethiopissa ituriensis Schmidt, 1923
* Rhamnophis aethiopissa elgonensis Loveridge, 1929

## Venom

Rhamnophis aethiopissa is a rear-fanged colubrid, i.e., it has venom, which it may be able to inoculate by biting. Because very little is known about this species and its venom, it is necessary to be very cautious when working with it. This species has an almost identical defence mechanism to the boomslang (Dispholidus typus) and twig snakes (genus Thelotornis) as they also inflate their throat to make themselves look bigger. It is believed that the species of the genus Rhamnophis evolved between the boomslang and the species of the genus Thrasops in terms of their fangs and means of envenomation.

