The black mamba is a large, highly venomous snake native to savanna and rocky habitats across sub-Saharan Africa, widely regarded as the fastest land snake in the world, capable of moving at speeds of up to twenty kilometres an hour over short distances. Despite its name, its body is usually olive, grey or brown rather than black, with the name instead referring to the inky black interior of its mouth, which it displays in a threat posture when cornered. Black mambas hunt small mammals and birds, delivering a highly potent neurotoxic venom through a rapid series of bites rather than a prolonged hold, and before antivenom became available a bite was considered almost universally fatal without prompt treatment. Though feared, the species is generally shy and prefers to flee from humans when possible, and it remains widespread and common across much of its range.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleVenomous or Dangerous to Humans 3 Living or ExtinctDerived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status. Scientific Name Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceBody usually olive, grey or brown rather than black; the name refers instead to the inky black interior of the mouth, displayed in its threat posture. 1 Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Wikidata: Black Mamba
In Biome
Source Black Mamba (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source Black Mamba (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Black Mamba (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead paragraph, first sentence
The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a species of highly venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae.
Lead paragraph, description of coloring
Despite the common name, the black mamba is not black; the colour name describes rather the inside of its mouth, which it displays when feeling threatened.
Conservation status section, first sentence
It is rated as least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s Red List of Threatened Species.
- In Biome: Savanna, Wikipedia intro: "threatened. The species is both terrestrial (ground-living) and arboreal (tree-living); it inhabits savannah, woodland, rocky slopes and in some regions, dense..."
In Ecosystem: Serengeti, Venom
The black mamba is the most feared snake in Africa because of its size, aggression, venom toxicity and speed of onset of symptoms following envenomation, and is classified as a snake of medical importance by the World Health Organization.
View the Source 2. Black mamba (Wikipedia)
- known to prey on birds and small mammals
- terrestrial (ground-living) and arboreal (tree-living)
View the Source3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Dendroaspis polylepis (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyKey Behaviors
Key Behaviors arboreal arboreal terricolous diurnal diurnal sedentary sedentary solitary solitary territorial territorial
Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Dendroaspis polylepis is one of the most dangerous snakes in the world.
View the Source 4. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Dendroaspis polylepis
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolLifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
Maximum longevity 26.2 years (captivity)
Life history traits (averages): Adult weight
Adult weight 30,758 g
View the Source Wikidata: Black Mamba
- Wikidata Q188690, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Child Taxon Of: Dendroaspis, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q194425 (Dendroaspis)
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