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

Ingo Arndt / Western green mamba snake {Dendroaspis viridis} occurs Africa

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

ZSSD / Green Mamba (Dendroaspis viridis) snake is the largest venomous snake in Africa, native to Africa

ZSSD / Green Mamba (Dendroaspis viridis) face with open mouth, venomous, native to West Africa

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

Ingo Arndt / Green Mamba (Dendroaspis viridis) close up of head, venomous, east Africa