Dendroaspis polylepis
black mamba

Black mambas are common in sub-Saharan areas of south and east Africa. They can be found as far north as Eritrea, through South Africa, and as far west as Namibia. Though they are not common in western Africa, there have been individual sightings. These sightings may indicate improper documentation, remaining populations from what was once a larger range, or new populations, indicating a growing range. No information was available on introduced range of this species. (Spawls and Branch, 1995)

Dendroaspis polylepis individuals prefer wooded savannah, rocky hills, or riverine forests with rocks or downed trees that provide cover. They may also be found hiding in hollow trees or termite mounds. Though they prefer traveling on the ground, they are also arboreal. If undisturbed, D. polylepis will maintain a permanent lair to which it returns when not hunting, basking, mating, or seeking refuge elsewhere. (Marais, 1992; Spawls and Branch, 1995)

Contrary to their common name, black mambas are not actually black. Dendroaspis polylepis can be olive, brownish, gray, or sometimes khaki in color. Young snakes are lighter in color, appearing gray or olive green, but are not light enough to be confused with green mambas (Dendroaspis angusticeps). Their underbody is cream-colored, sometimes blended with green or yellow. Dark spots or blotches may speckle the back half of the body and some individuals have alternating dark and light scales near the posterior, giving the impression of lateral bars. The inside of the mouth is a dark blue to “inky” black color. The eyes are dark brown to black, with a silvery-white to yellow edge on the pupils. There is disagreement between sources on the exact range of lengths of D. polylepis, but the extreme reported values indicate that adults are 2.0 to 3.0 m, with an average length of 2.2 to 2.7m. Certain sources also claim rare cases of lengths of 4.3 and even 4.5m. Their smooth scales are at mid-body, in 23 to 25 (in some cases 21) rows. (Branch, 1988; FitzSimons, 1970; Marais, 1985; Spawls and Branch, 1995)

No specific information was available for Dendroaspis polylepis, but some general assumptions can be made. Black mambas are oviparous. Young incubate inside the eggs for 2 to 3 months after being deposited. They break through the shell with an "egg-tooth". Upon hatching, young are fully functional and can fend for themselves. They have fully developed venom glands, and are dangerous just minutes after birth. The yolk of the egg is absorbed into the body and can nourish the young for quite some time. (FitzSimons, 1970)

There is not much information about the lifespan of snakes in the wild. The longest recorded lifespan of a captive mamba was 11 years, but actual lifespans could be much greater. (FitzSimons, 1970)

Dendroaspis polylepis are shy and secretive. They prefer to avoid confrontation but will become aggressive when threatened. This usually results when an intruder blocks the snake’s direct path to its home or refuge. A cornered black mamba will raise its head far off the ground, open its mouth, expand a narrow hood, flick its tongue and hiss before striking. Strikes will be numerous and rapid, and can be fatal to humans. If the intruder slowly moves away from the mamba, the snake will usually retreat. Black mambas spend much of their time basking and will return often to a favored sunny spot. They are diurnal, usually active from a few hours after sunrise until about an hour before dusk. Black mambas are capable of relatively high speeds, up to 20 km/h (about 12.5mph), traveling with up to a third of its body raised off the ground. Black mambas are adept at climbing trees and do so very quickly. They maintain a home range, but are not considered highly territorial, preferring to flee from danger when threatened. (Branch, 1988; FitzSimons, 1970; Marais, 1985; Marais, 1992; Spawls and Branch, 1995)

Home Range

Home range sizes can vary based on habitat characteristics and prey density. (Branch, 1988; FitzSimons, 1970; Marais, 1985; Marais, 1992; Spawls and Branch, 1995)

Dendroaspis polylepis shows little deviation from the common methods of communication and perception found in snakes. They use their eyesight mainly for detection of motion, and sudden movements will cause them to strike. The tongue is extended from the mouth to collect particles of air, which are then deposited in the vomeronasal organ on the roof of the mouth, which acts as a chemosensory organ. They have no external ears, but are quite adept at detecting vibrations from the ground. Like many snakes, when threatened, they will display aggression with a set of signals warning of the possibility of attack. (Marais, 1985)

Black mambas feed mostly on small mammals, including rodents, squirrels, and dassies or hyraxes. They also take birds occasionally. Black mambas strike once or twice and wait for the prey to become paralyzed and die before swallowing them. After ingestion, powerful acids digest the prey, sometimes within 8 to 10 hours. (Branch, 1988; FitzSimons, 1970; Marais, 1985; Marais, 1992)

There is no specific information on predators of Dendroaspis polylepis, but snakes in general have many. Predators will mainly target eggs or young snakes and may include: large reptiles such as crocodiles or monitors, large frogs, mongooses, foxes or jackals, birds of prey, and most notably, human beings. Though humans do not usually consume snakes, they often kill them out of fear. Snake eggs are also susceptible to being eaten by many types of scavengers. (FitzSimons, 1970)

Very little information is available on the ecosystem roles of black mambas. They are important in controlling rodent populations. (FitzSimons, 1970)

Dendroaspis polylepis is one of the most dangerous snakes in the world. It is capable of delivering enough venom to kill a human being within 20 minutes. Its venom is a neurotoxin that causes paralysis and stops vital body functions. If bitten, victims must seek immediate medical attention. Usually, antivenin is administered, but in cases where the victim has already become severely incapacitated, they may require life-support until their nervous system recovers. Since it will sometimes take refuge in a populated area, such as the roof of a house or a farm pumphouse, encounters with humans are relatively frequent, and in rural areas, often fatal. (FitzSimons, 1970; Marais, 1992; Spawls and Branch, 1995)

Though many snakes are kept in captivity as pets, this is generally a bad idea with a snake as dangerous as Dendroaspis polylepis, so it can be assumed that they are not a valuable commodity in the pet trade industry. In fact, there have been reports of black mambas delivering fatal or near-fatal bites to well-informed captors. Their diet of mostly small rodents helps control pest populations to some extent. (FitzSimons, 1970)

Black mambas are not endangered in any way, however, they do face a future threat due to human expansion. They are nervous animals and prefer to stay far away from humans. Human population expansion into their habitat could cause considerable habitat destruction and conflicts with human interests. (FitzSimons, 1970)

Black mambas (Dendroaspis polylepis) are one of the most feared snake species in the world, and certainly the most feared in Africa. Its combination of speed, unpredictable aggression, and potent venom make it an extremely dangerous species. People who encounter this snake experience a combination of awe and terror, hopefully followed by a quickly fleeing snake. (Branch, 1988; FitzSimons, 1970; Marais, 1985; Marais, 1992; Spawls and Branch, 1995)