The Black Mamba snake(Dendroaspis polylepis), also known as the Seven Steps, has a terrible reputation: being one of the most venomous snakes in the world and the most venomous snake in Africa. The nickname Seven Steps derives precisely from its lethality: one bite from it does not allow a human to take more than 7 steps before dying.
The Black Mamba is also the fastest land snake in the world, as well as “the longest species as a venomous snake in Africa and the second longest in the world, “ as told by Sara Viernum, a herpetologist based in Madison, Wisconsin. The great potential danger of this snake has been the subject of many African myths and has been the cause of thousands of human deaths.
Discovering the Black Mamba
The Black Mamba is an extremely venomous and very fast snake; it is highly aggressive when it feels threatened and is known to strike repeatedly, injecting a large amount of venom with each strike. Its venom is potentially lethal, and although an antidote exists, it is not widely available in southern and eastern Africa. For this reason, it is considered a killer in a region where nearly 20,000 people die from snakebites every year.
Characteristics
Contrary to what its name suggests, the black mamba is actually brown in color , but can be olive or grayish in tone. This dangerous snake is, in fact, called black mamba not because of the pigmentation of its skin, but because of the coloration of the inside of its mouth , which is a deep, inky black . Similar to the water moccasin ( Agkistrodon piscivorus ) , when threatened a mamba opens its mouth to reveal its black lining as a warning signal.
The Black Mamba has a coffin-shaped head and is a particularly agile and fast snake. According to National Geographic, these snakes can grow to be 14 feet (4.25 m) long, although their average length is about 8 feet (2.4 m). These giants can live up to 11 years.
Habitat
The black mamba resides in southern and eastern African savannas, in rocky hills and open woodlands, according to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology’s Animal Diversity Web (ADW). They like to be in open spaces and sleep in hollow trees, rock crevices, burrows or empty termite mounds.
Habits
These fast snakes can move more quickly than most people can run, a fact that partly explains why they are so feared. According to herpetologist Viernum, “the black mamba is one of the fastest species in the world, capable of reaching speeds of over 20 km/h.” Over long distances, however, they can maintain an average speed of about 11 km/h.
They glide swiftly in short bursts over flat ground, and can stretch about a third of their bodies off the ground while holding their heads high with pride. The mamba’s run is a terrifying and astonishing sight. However, according to National Geographic, the snake uses its incredible speed to escape threats, not to attack.
The black mamba is very active during the day and returns to the same place each night to sleep. According to the big-screen ARKive Initiative, it is often seen “basking in the branches of a tree early in the morning” before hunting. Black mambas are sometimes found in pairs or small groups, although Viernum emphasizes their fundamental shyness . He said they are, “shy and secretive snakes that prefer to escape confrontation. “
However, “black mambas can become very aggressive when threatened. Their defensive behavior is their most distinctive characteristic.”
“When they are seriously threatened, these snakes raise their upper bodies off the ground to stand upright,” said Viernum. This is a defensive posture intended to scare off the threat. If the black mamba needs to strike to defend itself, it won’t think twice: it will inject large doses of venom with every strike, emit a loud hiss, and then slither away as quickly as possible.
Diet
The Black Mamba typically eats small mammals and birds, although, according to Blue Planet Biomes, there have been reports of mambas found with whole parrots or cobras in their stomachs. In his book *Black Mamba*, Adam G. Klein wrote that when hunting, the snake bites its prey, injecting venom, then releases it and pursues it until the prey becomes paralyzed and dies, at which point it eats it.
Prey usually doesn’t survive long after being bitten by a black mamba. These snakes have flexible jaws that can dislocate and accommodate prey up to four times the size of their heads.
Reproduction
According to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse BioWeb , this dangerous snake usually mates during the spring or summer. Males fight for the affections of females. After mating, females lay between 6 and 25 eggs in a damp, warm burrow. The female abandons her eggs and never sees them again. The young hatch about three months later and are born measuring between 16 and 24 inches.
Bite and Venom
According to South Africa’s Kruger National Park, the powerful black mamba can kill a human with just two drops of venom . This snake’s venom, similar to that of the cobra and the coral snake, contains neurotoxins and has an LD50 of 0.25 mg/kg, as reported by herpetologist Viernum. The venom shuts down the nervous system and paralyzes victims very quickly; without an antidote, the fatality rate from a black mamba bite is 100%. “Deaths from black mamba bites have been documented as occurring no more than 20 minutes after the venom is injected. However, the most well-known fatalities have been reported within 30 minutes to 3 hours or more.”
Taxonomy/classification
The black mamba is one of four species of mamba, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). The others are the Jameson’s mamba, the eastern green mamba, and the western green mamba. This snake belongs to the Elapidae family, along with the coral snake and the cobra. Mambas are slender, agile, and active, with smooth scales and potent venom. They are all found throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Other Mambas
The other species of mamba are all smaller and slightly less venomous than the black mamba. These snakes are all bright green. They are also arboreal species and therefore live in trees. They are known for dropping from branches onto their prey. They are all solitary snakes.
Jameson’s Mamba
This is a slender, tree-dwelling snake that actively and swiftly pursues its small prey during the day. It can grow up to 8 feet (2.4 m) and is found in West and Central Africa.
Eastern Green Mamba
This is the smallest mamba, usually measuring about 6 or 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 m). It is common in forests throughout East Africa.
West African Green Mamba
Also known as the western green mamba or Hallowell’s green mamba, this snake can reach 10 feet (3 m), according to Branson Wild World. It is the second-longest and most venomous snake in Africa, after the black mamba. As its name suggests, it lives in West Africa.
