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 bogey for the inhabitants of the places in which it lives.
The black mamba is the fastest snake in the world. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 km / h, if such a need arises.
Mambas of other species live mostly on trees, but not black ones – they prefer to dwell on the ground.
As a nest, black mambas sometimes use not only empty hollows, but also abandoned termites.
In Africa, as a result of the expansion of agricultural land, people have invaded lands inhabited by black mambas, but snakes do not go anywhere, so attacks on peasants are happening more often.
The length of the black mamba can reach three meters. There are rumors about five-meter copies, but there is no evidence of the existence of mambas of this size yet.
Contrary to its name, black mambs are by no means black. They got their name thanks to the black color of the mouth, which they open wide before the attack.
In Africa, every year, eight to ten thousand people die from the bite of a black mamba.
Despite the previous point, the first mamba per person attacks rarely. Usually, it attacks only if it is disturbed.
The poison of a black mamba is fatal if you do not enter the antidote shortly after the bite.
Hunting, the black mamba first bites the victim, and then crawls to the side and waits for the poison to do its job.
The basis of the diet of black mamba is made up of birds, small rodents and lizards.
In the mating season, the males of the black mamba fight among themselves for the attention of the female, without applying, however, their poisonous fangs.
Newborn black mamba can reach a length of half a meter. And after a couple of hours after hatching from the egg, she is ready to hunt.
The worst enemies of black mambs are mongoose, who mercilessly exterminate these snakes.
