| Latin Name: Dendroaspis polylepis | | | | the lungs, followed soon by death. |
| | | | | Polyvalent anti-venom is available but many doctors |
| Age: Up to 12 years in captivity has been recorded. | | | | prefer not to use it as there are numerous cases of |
| | | | | people reacting allergic to the anti-venom which often |
| Colour: The body of the black mamba is grey to | | | | consists of the white-blood cells from horses. The |
| brown in colour. The only true black colour is the | | | | alternative treatment that hospitals often use is to |
| inside mouth lining. | | | | put the patient on a life-support machine to keep the |
| | | | | heart pumping as well as artificial respirators to keep |
| The black mamba is the largest venomous snake in | | | | the lungs going. They keep the machines on until the |
| Africa averaging 2 – 2.5 m (6.5 ft – 8.2 ft), | | | | body is strong enough once again to sustain its self. |
| with really large specimens reaching lengths of 4.2 m | | | | |
| (13.8 ft). The black mamba is a very nervous and | | | | The mamba’s venom is very effective for |
| fast moving snake capable of moving at speeds of | | | | immobilising its prey. Within just a few seconds of |
| up to 20km/hour (12.4 miles/hour). While moving they | | | | biting it prey, it dies from respiratory failure. Their diet |
| are capable of lifting their bodies 2 thirds of the | | | | consists of mainly small mammals such as; rats, mice, |
| ground, giving them a good all-round view of their | | | | squirrels, dassies (hyraxes) as well as birds. |
| surroundings. | | | | |
| If cornered and threatened they can be extremely | | | | The black mamba will often have a permanent lair if |
| dangerous and won’t hesitate to strike. Like | | | | not disturbed too often. A typical mamba lair would |
| most snakes mambas are very shy and would rather | | | | be a hollow in a tree or in the cavities of old termite |
| avoid confrontations and move out of sight before | | | | mounds. They are not considered an arboreal species |
| being seen. | | | | but can often be seen warming up on cold days high |
| The black mamba is much feared and considered by | | | | in trees. Black mambas are not territorial as they |
| many to be the most dangerous snake in Africa. The | | | | don’t scent-mark the areas they live in and they |
| reason for this is their aggressive behaviour and | | | | defend areas against other mambas. |
| potent venom which is predominantly neuro-toxic. A | | | | |
| single bite can kill the average man in an hour. A | | | | Breeding takes place in the early spring. After a |
| person that is allergic to bees can die within 20 | | | | successful copulation the eggs develop in the |
| minutes if bitten by a black mamba! The neuro-toxic | | | | female’s body for about 60 days. Mature |
| venom consists mainly of proteins that enter the | | | | females lay between 15 and 25 eggs which are often |
| blood-stream and bond on to the ends of the nerves | | | | hidden within termite mounds. The eggs incubate for |
| where the nerves join onto the different muscles. | | | | about 60 days before hatching. The hatchlings are |
| These proteins block off the nerve impulses from | | | | about 50 cm (20 inches) in length and totally |
| the brain which then stops the heart from pumping | | | | independent after leaving the eggs. |
| as well as the muscles which expand and contract | | | | |