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Black mamba Facts

Black mamba Facts
Black mamba is one of the deadliest snakes on the planet. This species can be found in Eastern and Southern parts of Africa. Black mamba can survive in different types of habitat: savannas, swamps, forests, woods and rocky areas. Any habitat that provides high temperature and humidity is good enough for black mamba. Due to habitat destruction and increased agriculture, contacts between black mambas and humans became more frequent. Black mambas will attack in self-defense while people will kill them to prevent potential attacks. For the moment, number of black mambas in the wild is stable and they are not listed as endangered animals.
Interesting Black mamba Facts:
Black mambas are very long snakes. They can reach 14 feet in the length and 3.5 pounds in weight.
Black mamba has slender body covered in large, smooth scales. Despite their names, black mambas are not black in color. Body coloration depends on their habitat and it can be green, grey or yellow.
Black mambas are named that way because the inner part of their mouth is completely black. Black mamba will display its black mouth when it is facing a danger.
Flattening of the neck and hissing sound are other signs that represent readiness of black mamba to attack.
Although black mamba has negative reputation, this snake will actually first try to escape before it attacks predator. It will attack only when cornered.
Black mamba produced neuro- (affects neural system) and cardio-toxin (affects cardiovascular system) that may kill humans in less than 20 minutes. Luckily, antidote is available in most parts of Africa.
Black mamba uses venom to hunt different type of birds and small mammals.
Black mamba lives in holes in the trees and in crevices of rocks. It is diurnal (active during the day) animal.
Despite large quantity of very strong toxin, black mamba has couple of predators. Main predator of black mambas is a mongoose. Other predators are birds of prey, foxes and jackals.
Black mamba moves very fast on the ground. It can travel long distances at the speed of up to 12 miles per hour.
Mating season for black mamba takes place from spring to summer. Males sometimes fight with one another before they get opportunity to mate.
Female is the one that chooses the partner for mating. Scientists are not sure which factors determine whether female will reject or accept certain males.
When the mating is over, female becomes very aggressive. She often chases her partner away.
Female lays between 10 and 25 eggs in the nest on the ground. High temperature is essential for the incubation of eggs. Young black mambas will hatch after three months. They take care of themselves from the moment of birth.
Black mamba can survive up to 11 years in the wild and up to 12 years in captivity.


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