Boomslang

A boomslang is a relatively small, venomous snake native to sub Saharan African. It is currently the only species in its gnus, although several species and subspecies have been described in the past. Its name means "tree snake" in Afrikaans and Dutch ("boom" meaning tree (a cognate of "beam" which means a long and large piece of wood, generally a support in a building), and "slang" meaning snake). In Afrikaans the name is pronounced [bu.omslan]. The snake is thought to be closely related to members of the genera Thelotoronis, Thrasops, Rhmanophis, and Xyelodontophis, with which it forms the tribe Dispholidini