14 Interesting Facts About Black Mamba

The black mamba is one of the most famous and perhaps the most dangerous snakes in the world. Of course, there are many no less dangerous snakes of other species in the world, but the recognizable appearance and the big name made the black mamba a real scarecrow for the inhabitants of the places in which it lives.

• The black mamba is the fastest snake in the world. She is capable of speeds up to 20 km / h if the need arises.
• Mambas of other species live mainly in trees, but not black ones – they prefer to live on the ground.
• As a nest, black mambas sometimes use not only empty hollows but also abandoned termite mounds.
• In Africa, as a result of the expansion of agricultural land, people have invaded lands where black mambas live, but snakes do not go anywhere, so attacks on peasants are becoming more common.
• The length of the black mamba can reach three meters. There are rumors about five-meter specimens, but there is no evidence of the existence of mambas of this size yet.
• Contrary to their name, black mambas are by no means black. They got their name due to the black color of the mouth, which they open wide before attacking.
• In Africa, eight to ten thousand people die every year from the bite of a black mamba.
• Despite the previous point, the first mamba rarely attacks a person. She usually attacks only if disturbed.
• The venom of the black mamba is fatal unless an antidote is administered shortly after the bite.
• When hunting, the black mamba first bites the victim, and then crawls away and waits for the poison to do its job.
• Birds, small rodents, and lizards form the basis of the diet of the black mamba.
• During the mating season, the males of the black mamba fight among themselves for the attention of the female, without, however, using their poisonous fangs.
• A newborn black mamba can reach a length of half a meter. Moreover, a couple of hours after hatching from the egg, she is already ready to hunt.
• The worst enemies of black mambas are mongooses, which ruthlessly exterminate these snakes.