Black mamba
They're long, fast, venomous, and aggressive. Check out what some call the world's deadliest snake.
Mambas are the fastest, longest venomous snakes in Africa. They strike fear into most, but are they really as terrifying as they’re reputed to be. Don't miss Legends of Venom: Mamba on National Geographic Wild on Sunday 19th March, 6pm.
COMMON NAME: Black Mamba
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Dendroaspis polylepis
TYPE: Reptiles
DIET: Carnivore
SIZE: Up to 14 feet
WEIGHT: Up to 3.5 pounds
What is the black mamba?
Black mambas are fast, nervous, lethally venomous, and when threatened, highly aggressive. They have been blamed for numerous human deaths, and African myths exaggerate their capabilities to legendary proportions. For these reasons, the black mamba is widely considered the world’s deadliest snake.
Range and characteristics
Black mambas live in the savannas and rocky hills of southern and eastern Africa. They are Africa’s longest venomous snake, reaching up to 14 feet in length, although 8.2 feet is more the average. They are also among the fastest snakes in the world, slithering at speeds of up to 12.5 miles per hour.
They get their name not from their skin color, which tends to be olive to gray, but rather from the blue-black color of the inside of their mouth, which they display when threatened.
Behavior
Black mambas are shy and will almost always seek to escape when confronted. However, when cornered, these snakes will raise their heads, sometimes with a third of their body off the ground, spread their cobra-like neck-flap, open their black mouths, and hiss. If an attacker persists, the mamba will strike not once, but repeatedly, injecting large amounts of potent neuro- and cardiotoxin with each strike.
Venom
Before the advent of black mamba antivenin, a bite from this fearsome serpent was almost always fatal, usually within about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, antivenin is still not widely available in the rural parts of the mamba’s range, and mamba-related deaths remain frequent.
Encroachment on the black mamba's territory is not only putting pressure on the species but contributes to more potentially dangerous human contact with these snakes.
