Michael D. Kern / Western green mamba snakes {Dendroaspis viridis} captive, Eastern Africa

Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope image formed from photograph of Western green mamba (Dendroapsis viridis). EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015

PREMAPHOTOS / Western green mamba {Dendroaspis viridis} snake drinking from pool in gallery forest, Gambia

Michael D. Kern / Western green mamba snake {Dendroaspis viridis} captive, Eastern Africa

Rod Williams / Two Western green mambas {Dendroaspis viridis} captive, found in West Africa

Staffan Widstrand / Western green mamba {Dendroaspis virids} captive

Lynn M. Stone / Western green mamba {Dendroaspis virids}, captive

LYNN M. STONE / Western green / Jameson's mamba {Dendroaspis viridis} captive, from west africa

Chris Mattison / West African green mamba (Dendroaspis viridis) head portrait, Malaysia. Captive.