Dendraspis

/dɛnˈdræspɪs/ noun

Definition

A genus of highly venomous African snakes, commonly known as mambas, recognized by their tree-dwelling habits and slender bodies.

Etymology

From Greek dendron (tree) + aspis (snake). The scientific name literally means 'tree snake,' referring to their arboreal habitat.

Kelly Says

The black mamba (Dendraspis polylepis) is one of Africa's deadliest snakes, but its venom has become valuable in medical research—scientists extract it to develop new pain treatments.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.