with every patient. An adult boomslang has 1.6 to 8 mg of venom. Its median lethal dose (LD50) in mice is 0.1 mg/kg (intravenously). 0.071 mg/kg (IV) has also been reported. 12.5 mg/kg (subcutaneously) and 1.3-1.8 mg/kg (intraperitoneal). Based on the very low venom quantities produced by D. typus, and the very serious effects found in a good part of the reported cases, the lethal dosage for a man would be only 2 to 3 mg. In 1957, herpetologist Karl Schmidt died after being bitten by a juvenile boomslang, which he had doubted could produce a fatal dose. He made notes on the symptoms he experienced almost to the end. D. S. Chapman reported eight serious envenomations by boomslangs between 1919 and 1962, two of which were lethal. Boomslang monovalent antivenom was developed during the 1940s. The South African Vaccine Producers manufactures a monovalent antivenom for use in boomslang envenomations. Treatment of bites may also require complete blood transfusions, especially after 24 to 48 hours without antivenom. The boomslang is a timid snake, and bites generally occur only when people attempt to handle, catch, or kill the animal. When confronted and cornered, it inflates its neck and assumes an "S"-shaped striking pose. Gallery References Further reading Access Professional Development. 2022. Boomslang (Dispholidus typus). [Online] Available: https://accesspd.co.za/species/Boomslang (Accessed: 02/02/2022) Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. . (Dispholidus typus, pp. 99–100 + Plate 31). Goin CJ , Goin OB, Zug GR (1978). Introduction to Herpetology, Third Edition. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman. . (Dispholidus typus, pp. 322, 324.) Laurent RF (1955). "Diagnoses preliminaires des quelques Serpents venimeux . Revue de zoologie et de botanique africaines 51: 127–139. (Dispholidus typus kivuensis, new subspecies; D. t. punctatus, new subspecies.) Smith A (1828). "Descriptions of New or Imperfectly Known Objects of the Animal Kingdom, Found in the South of Africa". South African Commercial Advertiser 3 (144): 2. (Bucephalus typus, new species.) External links Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) Boomslang vs.Chameleon NatGeo Boomslang predation on Sabota Lark nest (with video) Afrikaans words and phrases Dispholidus Reptiles described in 1828 Snakes of Africa Venomous snakes