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