Facts about Black Mamba

1. 09

   Unlike most snakes, the Black Mamba is largely terrestrial and often shelters in abandoned burrows, termite mounds, or rock crevices as permanent retreats.

   Black MambaJun 8sharebehaviorhabitatbiology
2. 08

   Striking with its fangs at speeds exceeding 8 meters per second, the Black Mamba can inject venom through a single bite in approximately one-tenth of a second.

   Black MambaMay 14sharebiologymeasurementpredation
3. 07

   Black Mambas possess a neurotoxin that blocks acetylcholine transmission at the neuromuscular junction, causing respiratory paralysis within 20 minutes of a severe bite.

   Black MambaMay 14sharevenomneurologytoxicology
4. 06

   An adult Black Mamba can reach lengths of 6 to 8 feet, with some exceptional individuals recorded at over 14 feet long.

   Black MambaMay 14sharemeasurementbiologymorphology
5. 05

   Juvenile Black Mambas are typically gray or olive-colored at birth, only developing their characteristic dark coloration as they mature over their first few years.

   Black MambaMay 14sharedevelopmentcolorationbiology
6. 04

   Native to sub-Saharan Africa, the Black Mamba inhabits diverse environments from savannas to forests across a range spanning over 15 countries.

   Black MambaMay 14sharegeographyhabitatdistribution
7. 03

   The Black Mamba moves at speeds up to 12.5 miles per hour, making it one of the fastest snakes in Africa.

   Black MambaMay 14sharespeedbehaviorafrica
8. 02

   In 1964, herpetologist Robert Mertens named the Black Mamba after its dark mouth interior, which it displays as a threat display when cornered.

   Black MambaMay 14sharenamingbehaviorhistory
9. 01

   A Black Mamba can deliver up to 400 milligrams of venom per bite, enough to kill 10 adult humans within hours.

   Black MambaMay 14sharebiologymeasurementtoxicology