Black Mamba - King of Snakes

The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is the longest venomous snake in Africa, averaging around 2.5 meters (8.2 ft), and sometimes growing up to 4.3 meters (14 ft). Its name is derived from the black coloration inside the mouth; the actual color of the skin varies, from dull yellowish-green to a gun-metal gray. It is the fastest snake in the world, capable of moving at 4.5 to 5.4 metres per second (16–20 km/h, 10–12 mph.

Of all the African snakes the Black Mamba is the most feared and is known for being aggressive when agitated or confronted and will strike with deadly precision. The outer colour varies between a pale grey-green to a gunmetal blue. The head is also distinctive in being narrowly shaped and having round eyes with round pupils. The snake being neurotoxic causes respiratory failure and leaves the pray paralysed which causes death in 7-15 hours.

The average length of the snake varies between 2 to 2.5 metres but an exceptional case was recorded of 4.5 metres. This snake has quite a large distribution stretching from Senegal (West Africa) to Somalia in the East down to Pondoland (Port St Johns) including Namibia and Angola. They are absent from Equatorial forests and desert areas. They prefer more open Bushveld / Savanna with an altitude not exceeding 1500 metres.

A batch of 12 to 17 eggs are usually laid but can be as few as 9 or 10 and are oval shaped hatching between 80-90 days. The young are usually dark in colour and measures between 40 to 60 cm in length.

Bites from Black Mambas to humans are rare, but they are very deadly. A single bite can have enough venom to kill anywhere from 20-40 grown men. They tend to become extremely aggressive and will readily attack, especially if they can not escape. Many snake experts have cited the black mamba as the world's most aggressive snake, being actively aggressive and attacking without provocation. If confronted by a large threat, such as a human, the Black Mamba will aggressively defend its territory. When in the striking position, the mamba flattens its neck, hisses very loudly and displays its inky black mouth and deadly fangs. It can rear up around one-third of its body from the ground which puts it at about four feet high. When warding off a threat, the black mamba delivers multiple strikes, injecting large amounts of potent neuro- and cardiotoxin with each strike, often landing bites on the body or head, unlike other snakes.

If left undisturbed, Black Mambas tend to live in their lairs for long periods of time, which are often vacated insect mounds or hollow trees. Black mambas are diurnal snakes that hunt prey actively day or night. When hunting small animals, the Black Mamba delivers a single deadly bite and backs off, waiting for the neurotoxin in its venom to paralyze the prey. When killing a bird, however, the Black Mamba will cling to its prey, preventing it from flying away.

Behaviour

Venom

Black mambas are among the ten most venomous snakes in the world. With an LD50 of 0.25-0.32 mg/kg, the black mamba is more than 3 times as venomous as the Cape Cobra, over 5 times as venomous as the King cobra and about 40 times as venomous as the Gaboon viper. Black mamba venom contains powerful, rapid-acting neurotoxins and cardiotoxins. Its bite delivers about 100-120 mg of venom on average, however it can deliver up to 400 mg of venom; 10 to 15 mg is deadly to a human adult. The initial symptom of the bite is local pain in the bite area, although not as severe as snakes with hemotoxins. The victim then experiences a tingling sensation in the extremities, drooping eyelids (eyelid ptosis), tunnel vision, sweating, excessive salivation, and lack of muscle control (specifically the mouth and tongue). If the victim does not receive medical attention, symptoms rapidly progress to nausea, shortness of breath, confusion, and paralysis. Eventually, the victim experiences convulsions, respiratory failure, and coma, and dies due to suffocation resulting from paralysis of the muscles used for breathing. Without treatment the mortality rate is 100%, the highest among all venomous snakes in the world.

Lifestyle

Black mambas live primarily in scrubland and, though not considered an arboreal species, can live in bushes and small trees. Its diet consists mainly of small birds and rodents and, despite the negative reputation, it plays a crucial role in regulating pests.

Breeding

Breeding usually takes place in late spring or early summer. After mating the male will return back to its own home. The female will then lay between 10 and 25 eggs. The offspring are independent as soon as they are born and can capture prey the size of a rat