1. Dendroaspis polylepis (Dendroaspis polylepis)
also known as the Black
Mamba is the world’s
fastest
snake, and it is also one
of
the most venomous.
The
reptile has an average
lifespan in the wild of
eleven
years or more. The By: Nichole Fields
snake can
reach heights up to
fourteen Biology 101
feet, and can weigh up Photography
by Atlee
to three
and a half pounds.
Professor Swatski Hargis

2. The snake is not black at
all,
but instead a grey to
olive tone.
Its name refers to the
black
color in its mouth that it
displays as a defense
mechanism when
threatened.
Photography
by Kibuyu

3. The Black Mamba’s
habitat
ranges from Eastern
Africa
in southern Ethiopia to
Southwest Africa.
Newport Geographic

4. The Black Mamba dwells
in the savannas and
rocky
hills of southern and
eastern
Africa. It spends its
nights
in burrows, or deep
among rocks
and timber. The cold
blooded
snake relies on external
heat to maintain its body
temperature, so it basks
in the sun during the day
on low tree branches and
rocks.
Photography by O. Taillon

5. The carnivorous snake
feeds on rodents, bats,
small mammals, birds,
and
lizards. The snake is
able to
swallow its prey whole,
and digest it within a
few
hours, unlike some
other snakes.
Photography by Tad Arensmeier

6. The world’s fastest snake,
the Black Mamba, can
travel
speeds up to 12.5 miles
per hour. This speed is
normally
not used to hunt prey, but
to
escape danger.
Photography by A. Jaszlics

7. The Black Mamba is shy
in nature, and will usually
try to escape if it is
confronted.
However, if the snake is
threatened
it will raise its head up,
spreading its cobra
like-neck flap open. It will
then display
its black colored mouth,
and hiss.
The snake then strikes
repeatedly injecting
large amounts of potent
neuro-
and cardio toxin with
each strike.
The Black Mamba has the
ability to lift a
third of its body off the
ground to
attack if needed. Photography by thebutterflydiaries

8. The Black Mamba’s bite
is 100% fatal and can cause
death within 20 minutes.
Photography by Rod Patterson

9. The snake can deliver up to
400 milligrams of venom,
but
only 10 to 15 milligrams is
needed to kill an adult
human.
The venom is injected
through
two hollow fangs, which
remain
flat until the snake bites,
and movable
mouth bones erect them.
Photography by Guenter Leitenbauer

10. Symptoms Include:
Pain in the area bitten
Tingling sensation in the
extremities
Drooping eyelids(Eyelid Ptosis)
Tunnel Vision
Sweating
Excessive Salivation
Lack of Muscle Control
…………without medical
attention
the symptoms rapidly progress
to:
Convulsions
Respiratory Failure
Coma
And death due to suffocation
from paralysis
Photography by Brad

13. Works Cited
“Black Mamba Snakes.” Animal Corner. Web. 4 Oct. 2011.
<http://animalcorner.co.uk/ven_snakesblkmambahtml-.Tov
Ibscy16E.email/>.
“Black Mamba.” Animals Nat Geo Wild. National Geographic.com.
Web. 4 Oct. 2011.
<http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/>.
“Black Mamba.” Encyclopedia of Animals (2006). Primary Search.
EBSCO. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.
<http://ezproxy.hacc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=prh&AN=20073437&site=ehost-live>.

14. Works Cited
“Black Mamba vs. Animal Kingdom.” 15 May 2008. YouTube.
Web. 25 Nov. 2011.
“Jeff Corwin black mamba clip.” 29 May 2010. YouTube. Web.
25 Nov. 2011.

15. Works Cited
A. Jaszlics. “The Black Mamba.” Photograph. Flickr.Yahoo. 4 Nov. 2008.
Web. 25 Nov. 2011.
Arensmeirer, Tad. “Black Mamba Swallowing.” Photograph. Flickr.Yahoo.
27 March 2007. Web. 25 Nov. 2011.
Brad. “Black Mamba.” Photograph. Flickr.Yahoo. 16 July 2008. Web. 25
Nov. 2011.
Hargis, Atlee. “IMG 0928.” Photograph. Flickr.Yahoo. 8 April 2009.
Web. 25 Nov. 2011.
Kibuyu. “Dendroaspis polylepis.” Photograph. Flickr.Yahoo. 1986. Web.
25 Nov. 2011.

16. Works Cited
Leitenbauer, Guenter. “Black Mamba(Dendroaspis polylepis).
Photograph. Flickr.Yahoo. 12 Aug. 2006. Web. 25 Nov. 2011.
O. Taillon. “African savanna.” Photograph. Flickr.Yahoo. 24 July 2005.
Web. 25 Nov. 2011.