Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)- this is one of the the most dangerous and fastest snakes in the world. Her poison is capable of kill a man in just a few hoursher aggressive nature and lightning-fast reactions make her a true legend among snakes.
Despite its fearsome reputation, this snake avoids people, and only attacks them. in case of a threat. It is there Africa's longest venomous snake, reach lengths up to 4.5 meters. Black mamba is not quite black-its name comes from black color of the inner side of the mouthwhich she demonstrates in a defensive pose.
In this article, we will consider body structure, habitat, behavior, reproduction, nutrition, venom, and relationships with humans.
Scientific classification
🔬 Black Mamba taxonomy:
✔ The Kingdom: Animals (Animalia)
✔ Type: Chordal (Chordata)
✔ Class: Reptiles (Reptilia)
✔ Row: Scaly (Squamata)
✔ Family: Aspidovye (Elapidae)
✔ Gender: Mambas (Dendroaspis)
✔ View: Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)
📌 Interesting!
The black mamba is the most famous member of the genus Dendroaspis, which also includes green mambaswhich have a less aggressive nature and a weaker poison.
Appearance and body structure
💠 Characteristic features of the black mamba:
• Length: 2.5 to 4.5 meters (one of the longest venomous snakes in the world).
• Weight: about 1.6 kg.
• Colour: from olive gray to light brown, which helps you disguise yourself.
• Chairman: elongated, like a coffin.
• Oko: round, with dark pupils.
• Oral cavity: black color, hence the name of the snake.
📌 Interesting!
Black Mamba – the fastest snake in the world, is able to move at a speed of speed up to 20 km / h for short distances!
Habitat and range
🌍 Where does the black mamba live?
* Common in East, Central and Southern Africa.
* Most commonly found in Savanna, dry forests, shrublands, and rocky areas.
* Avoids dense forests and deserts.
📌 Interesting!
Black Mamba not a tree snakealthough its relatives-green mambas-spend most of their lives in the crowns of trees.
Lifestyle and behavior
🔹 Social structure
* Black Mamba – loner, it doesn't create groups and avoids contacts.
*she territorial unitalthough it can migrate in search of food.
🔹 Activity
* Leads daytime lifestyle.
* Rests at night in the caves, burrows, tree holes, or between rocks.
🔹 Aggression and defense
* In case of a threat it raises the front part of the body, inflates the neck and opens the mouth wide.
* Issues a warning before attacking hissing sound.
* If the enemy does not retreat – attacks with lightning speed, making several bites in a row.
📌 Interesting!
Unlike cobras, the black mamba doesn't "play" with the victim "if she attacks, she always tries enter it.
Reproduction
💡 How do black mambas breed?
* The mating season continues from spring to early summer.
* Males they fight for the femalebodies intertwined, but no bites.
* 2 months after mating, the female lays 8-20 eggs in a warm burrow or between the roots of trees.
* Small mambas hatch through 2-3 months, already having fully active poison.
📌 Interesting!
Young black mambas immediately become independent and do not receive any help from their mother.
Food
🍽 What does the black mamba eat?
* Basic diet – rodents, birds, bats, small mammals.
* Hunts using speed and instant bite with neurotoxic venom.
📌 Interesting!
Unlike pythons, the black mamba doesn't choke prey, and bites and releases venom, after which waiting for the victim to die.
Black Mamba Venom
☠ Bite hazard
* The poison has neurotoxic effectwhich paralyzes the victim.
* Death occurs without treatment 20 minutes to 6 hours.
* Causes paralysis of the respiratory muscles, which leads to suffocation.
💉 Antidote and treatment
* There is an antidote, but it must be administered within 30-60 minutes.
* Untreated death rate it is more than 95%.
📌 Interesting!
Black mamba highlights 100 to 400 mg of venom per bite, while the lethal dose for humans is 10-15 mg!
Black mamba and the man
👤 Relationships with people
• Mamba doesn't attack firstbut if it is disturbed – it is deadly.
• There are one of the most feared snakes in Africa, often appears in myths and legends.
⚠ Threats to the species
* The population is decreasing due to habitat destruction.
* Hunt mambas for venom and skin.
📌 Interesting!
Black Mamba venom is being researched by scientists to create powerful painkillerswhich may be more effective than morphine!
Conclusion
The black mamba is a formidable predator, which has incredible speed, power and deadly poison. It is there one of the most dangerous snakes in the world, but at the same time plays an important role in nature, controlling the population of rodents. it is not aggressive without a reason and usually avoids people. Therefore, the main rule in meeting with a Mamba is – never provoke her!
