Concept in Definition ABC

This snake of the family Elapidae live in the savannas and hills in the countries of southern and eastern Africa. This animal is perfectly adapted to the natural environment, since its long body is totally camouflaged with the weeds.

Its name Black Mamba does not refer to the coloration of its scales, but to the black color inside its mouth. Its body is about 4 meters long, it can reach a velocity of 20 km / h and normally lives 11 years. The human being is the only enemy of the black mamba.

Data of interest

- It is one of the deadliest animals on the African continent. Among snakes, it is one of the most lethal in the world.

- Its poison attacks the nervous system of its victims and with the doses of poison from each bite, fifteen people could be killed.

- Females are very selective when it comes to mating.

- There are no visible differences between both sexes, as their size is very similar.

- Males approach females through their powerful sense of smell (the mating period takes place before the rainy season).

- Males and females do not form stable pairs and only come together during the period of heat.

- The females incubate the eggs inside their body for approximately two months (the number of eggs that each female lays varies between 10 and 25).

- The black mamba usually hides in the trunks of trees or in an abandoned burrow. Their lairs are warm and dark places.

- Snake hunting experts try to reduce conflicts that can affect humans.

- These snakes are highly valued in the exotic species market.

- When the shape of your tongue remains open this means that you feel threatened.

- It has excellent vision and thanks to it they are very effective when attacking their prey.

- Your body mechanism to maintain temperature is comparable to a solar panel (the snake basks in the sun to attract Energy and the action of heat stimulates your metabolism).

The Black Mamba attack is normally deadly

The effects of its bite on humans are lethal. When attacking the Central Nervous System, a rapid reaction is triggered: first there is a sensation of tingling in the hands, then the vision becomes cloudy and there is a loss of muscle control and an increase in body temperature and finally there is a generalized paralysis accompanied by seizures.

The agony ends in cardiac arrest and death.

Photos: Fotolia - Vladislav333222 / Petrus Bester

Themes in Black Mamba