Featured Snake – Black Mamba
Black Mamba
(Dendroaspis Polylepis)
Scroll down for a video on the black mamba
Photo By Bjoertvedt
Identification: It is the largest venomous snake in Africa. Length is between 2,5 to 3 metres with a maximum of 4 metres. They are a grey-green, Olive or a grey-brown colour above and a Light grey or grey-green below. They have a long head in the shape of a coffin. They gape at predators revealing a dark somewhat “black” inner mouth.
Areas: It is found in Sub-tropical and tropical (open) bush. In holes in the ground, trees or Rock Crevices in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also often found around human habitats.
Habits: It is a Diurnal Terrestrial species preferring to stay on the ground and is quite territorial so if you see one on your property you will probably see it again. It comes out every morning to hunt. It is a shy snake but is extremely quick to spread a narrow hood, rear lunge repeatedly and hiss when attacked or cornered.
Food: It feeds on rock dassies, rats, tree squirrels and relatively small gamebirds as well as snakes.
Breeding: The female lays 6 – 17 eggs in midsummer which hatch between 2 and 3 months later. Young measure between 400 and 600mm growing up 2 m within a year.
Danger To Man: Very potent neurotoxic and cardiotoxic venom coupled with a nervous disposition make this an extremely dangerous snake. It is also lightning quick and has the respect of all snake handlers.
