Wildlife
Black mambas actually come in a variety of colours, from pale grey to beige. Their name is derived from the colour of their mouths rather than their skin. Highly venomous and feared throughout their range, black mambas are famed for being the fastest and most dangerous snakes in Africa. The mamba's venom contains a powerful neurotoxin which works by preventing impulses from travelling along the nerves. The victim becomes paralysed and death occurs through respiratory failure.
Scientific name: Dendroaspis polylepis
Rank: Species
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Skin shedding
A mamba wriggles out of his old skin.
A mamba wriggles out of his old skin.
Hunting mambas
Weaver birds try to escape the attentions of ambushing snakes.
Weaver birds try to escape the attentions of ambushing snakes.
Mamba rumble
It's no holds barred for males competing for the right to mate.
It's no holds barred for males competing for the right to mate.
Mamba danger
Startled mambas have no choice of defense but to attack.
Startled mambas have no choice of defense but to attack.
Iconic predator
The deadly black mamba is far from a mindless killer.
The deadly black mamba is far from a mindless killer.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Black mamba can be found in a number of locations including: Africa. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Black mamba distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis), also called the common black mamba or black-mouthed mamba, is the longest venomous snake in Africa, averaging around 2.5 to 3.2 m (8.2 to 10 ft) in length, and sometimes growing to lengths of 4.45 m (14.6 ft). It is named for the black colour of the inside of the mouth rather than the colour of its scales which varies from dull yellowish-green to a gun-metal grey. It is also the fastest snake in the world, capable of moving at 4.32 to 5.4 metres per second (16–20 km/h, 10–12 mph). The black mamba has a reputation for being very aggressive, but it usually attempts to flee from humans like most snakes, unless it is threatened. Without rapid and vigorous antivenom therapy, a bite from a black mamba is almost always fatal.
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Desert
Mountain grassland
Tropical dry forest
Tropical grassland
Rainforest
Tree dweller
Carnivorous
Egg layer
Predator
Venomous