Black Mamba Facts
Black Mambas Have Black Mouths
The most distinctive feature of black mambas is the dark inky black mouth of the species. While their overall color is usually dark olive, olive green, light to dark gray or grayish brown, when they open their mouths it appears black inside.
Black mambas live in the savannas and rocky hills of southern and eastern Africa.
The black mamba is the world's second-longest venomous snake after the king cobra. Most mature specimens are over 2 m in length and many grow up to 3 m. The longest black mamba specimens were 4.3 to 4.5 m long. They are Africa's longest venomous snake.
They are also among the fastest snakes in the world, slithering at speeds of up to 12.5 miles per hour.
These snakes can move 4.32 to 5.4 meters per second making them the world's fastest snakes.
The bite of a black mamba can cause collapse in humans within 45 minutes or less. Without appropriate antivenom treatment, symptoms typically progress to respiratory failure, which leads to cardiovascular collapse and death. This typically occurs in 7 to 15 hours.
Can a black mamba kill an elephant?
Its bite delivers a tremendous amount of paralysis-inducing neurotoxins. The snake's venom is so strong and so voluminous that it can kill an elephant in just a few hours. Death also results in at least 50 to 60 percent of untreated human cases.
Black Mambas Strike Repeatedly
Black mambas strike not once or twice but repeatedly often injecting venom with every bite. This behavior of the snake makes its bite deadlier than most other snakes as more venom gets added with every strike.
Does a black mamba spit?
Like all snakes in the Elapidae family, black mambas have fixed, hollow fangs at the front of their mouths that they use like hypodermic needles to inject venom into their prey. ... Venom is produced by a modified salivary gland and digestive enzymes in the saliva help soften the meal while the venom takes effect.
Black Mamba Is Both Arboreal And Terrestrial
Black mambas live at ease on both trees and the ground. They are agile and quick when climbing trees. On the ground, they inhabit termite mounds, rock crevices, or abandoned burrows of other animals. On trees, they nest in tree cracks. When on the ground, the black mamba moves with a raised neck and head.
What to do if a black mamba bites you?
Remove constricting items (for example rings and clothing), especially those close to the bite site. The first-aid treatment of black mamba bites includes lymphatic retardation with the pressure immobilisation technique – in other words try and wrap a tight crepe bandage or tourniquet close to the bite site.
Black Mambas Are More Aggressive Than Other Venomous Snakes
Although the black mamba's reputation as a highly aggressive snake is exaggerated, it does not shy away from biting any intruder that approaches it too close. These snakes are also highly unpredictable. Their ability to move quickly makes them more dangerous. They seldom tolerate humans closer than about 40 m. Usually, they retreat into a hiding place when they perceive a threat. However, when cornered the black mamba puts up a threat display where it flicks its tongue, hisses, and spreads its neck-flap. Any movement by a human near it during such display triggers the snake to bite and envenomate the victim.
Why is the Black Mamba so dangerous?
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.
What kills a black mamba?
Predators. There is not much information on the predators of the black mamba, but snakes have many predators. Some predators are birds of prey, crocodiles, big frogs, mongooses, monitor lizards, foxes, jackals, and even humans. We kill them because we are afraid of their dangerous venom.
Most Black Mamba Bites Occur In Upper Body
Unlike most other snakes that bite in the lower extremities when encountered in the standing position, black mamba bites often affect the upper parts of the human body. The long size of the snake and its ability raise its head for a significant distance above the ground allows it to launch about 40% of its body upwards and strike the upper parts of a standing human being.
Which snake has no anti venom?
This includes various types of cobras, kraits, saw-scaled vipers, sea snakes, and pit vipers for which there are no commercially available anti-venom.
Black Mamba Is Africa's Most Feared Snake
The sheer size, aggression, and highly toxic venom of the black mamba make it Africa's most feared snake. According to a South African survey from 1957 to 1979, black mambas were responsible for 75 of the recorded 2553 venomous snakebites and caused the death of 21 people. In Zimbabwe 2 out of the 5 people who died from venomous snake bites from 1991 to1992 were bitten by black mambas.
