Does only the black mamba have a black mouth on the inside or are there other snakes that also have black mouths on the inside?
We have just moved from Pretoria to the outskirts of Gaborone in Botswana. We live on a 2ha small holding with real bushveld and thorn trees. In our first week of moving in during Dec 2013 we already spotted a 1.5m black mamba and a couple of other snakes. But yesterday (1Jan2014) and today (2 Jan 2014) we have spotted two smaller snakes (about 80 cm in length). I'm not knowledgeable on snakes but moving to Botswana and in my first few weeks spotting so many snakes and black mambas, my inauguration has started quickly and need to very quickly learn about snakes. So these 80 cm snakes does not fully fit the profile of baby black mambas, but when I confronted it with a long stick to push in a different direction, the mouth did open and it was purple black on the inside. Was difficult to see as both sightings were at night with a torch. So here are my main questions again to try and identify them (will try to send pics):
1. Do only black mambas have black mouths or do other snakes also have black mouths?
2. Do black mambas (or other snakes) come out late at night? Both our sightings where late at night after 10pm. Taking into consideration Botswana is still a good 28 degrees Cecuis this time of night (really warm).
3. Google search revealed mating season is in September and hatching is 3 months later, thus it might be a baby/juvenile black mamba?
4. The colour was a light brown / olive brown
5. Had a white pattern on the back. The snake was not a solid colour. The pattern is neither stripes or diamonds, but sort of a mix.
6. Hopefully I'll have pics soon, but hope this information is enough for the forum to comment. Especially on the black mouth and if other snakes also have a black mouths, which can be confused with the black mamba?
Thanks in advance for the help!
Btw what is good book for snakes and snakes identification? Also when I come to Pretoria again, where can I get lessons on snakes etc, as I know seem to really need it?