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