Black Mamba Snake

No snake is more feared than the black mamba (Latin: Dendroaspis polylepis). That is, in Africa as the black mamba is only found in East and Southern Africa and in some isolated locations in West Africa. Because of its reputation, the black mamba is also called «the shadow of death» in some parts of Africa. However, some African Myths about the Black Mamba overestimates their abilities, and the black mamba is not intelligent, shrewd or anything else that would normally be attributed to humans. Also, if black mambas were just as vicious as some people believe, no one would dare go into the bush.

Its venom is highly effective at inhibiting cardiac contraction - that is - the victim's heart will stop beating due to the venom and he/she/it will die because of respiratory failure. It also acts as a neurotoxin resulting in hallucinations and muscle paralysis. Before the antidote was found, only few survived black mamba snake bites. However, in contrast to popular belief, some definitely survived its bite.

The black mamba is a nervous and timid snake that will try to defend itself at the slightest sense of danger. However, as it is not a robust snake it cannot bear close encounters and it will lash out at anything coming too close. The black mamba will not give ground to anybody and relies on its speed and extremely toxic neurotoxin.

In the literature and in the news, numerous cases of bites and fatalities can be found.

Most people believe that there is only one type of mamba snake and that it is black. In fact, there are four species of mambas, of which none are black. The black mamba is brown or grey and only black in the inside of its mouth.

Appearance, habitats and behavior

Black mambas are tremendously agile and for short distances they can travel along the ground at 14 miles per hour (23 km/t) and for longer distances it can travel at up to 7-12 miles per hour¹.

Female and male black mamba differ very little in the way they look. In fact, there are no visible differences and only experts can tell whether a mamba is a male or female on closer inspection.

The Black Mamba is a tree snake but it is equally at home on the ground where it hunts. When in a tree the Black Mamba is usually resting and or basking in the sun. Mambas are diurnal; they hunt during the day and return to their burrows or rock crevices during the night.

It is a long slender snake with a characteristic coffin shaped head. It is neither robust nor strong as it seem as if physical strength has been replaced by a highly venomous and fatal poison that kills it prey before it can inflict any damage to the snake.

Bites

Much has been told about the venom of black mambas. Before antivenin was developed a bite from a black mamba meant certain death. However, because of the toxicity of black mamba venom anyone bitten by the black mamba must have antivenin immediately if a fatality should be avoided. According to WHO² most bites occur in plantations and in many such places antivenin is available. In most cases antivenin is administered in time. In fact, the number of deaths from black mambas has decreased significantly since antivenin against its venom was found.

Reproduction

Females lay an average of 15 eggs. The egg hatches after 3 months and the baby mamba snakes have a length of 1-2 feet. Newborn mamba snakes grow rather rapidly and are capable of catching mice and other small rodents immediately after hatching. The female leaves the eggs immediately after hatching so the newborn snakes are on their own.

Related species and geographic location

Other species include the Eastern Green Mamba (Latin: Dendroaspis angusticeps) and the Western Green Mamba (Latin: Dendroaspis viridis). Both are smaller than the black mamba and spend much more time in trees and canopies than the black mamba. Also, they are said to be less aggressive and to have slightly less poisonous venom. They are slightly smaller than the black mamba. A fourth species of the mambas is the Jameson's Mamba (Latin: Dendroaspis jamesoni). It is usually found in trees and its venom is also less venomous that the venom of the black mamba.

References

1. Richardson, A. Mambas (2004)
2. Chippaux. Snake-bites: Appraisal of the global situation. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 76(5) pp. 515-524 (1998)

Acknowledgment

Thanks to Tad, Richard, and Ted for allowing me to use their photos.

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