mamba

a kind of snake – related to the cobra –

There are four species of mambas, all of them slender and long, short fangs, very venomous (poisonous), found in different parts of Africa: black mamba, eastern green mamba, western green mamba and Jameson’s mamba.

*black mamba:

with olive grey or grey brown body colour; about 8 feet long (some individuals can grow up to 14 feet), weighs 1½ Kg; feeds on small animals such as ground squirrels, rats, lizards and birds; lives in insect mounds, mammal burrows, hollow tree trunks and gaps in rocks; lives for about 10 years in captivity

Special Features:

The first thing to note is that a black mamba does not have black body colour; it is the inside of its mouth that is inky black, which it will show to scare off its predators (= animals that try to kill and eat it)!

The Black mamba is the largest venomous (= poisonous) snake in Africa, and the fastest moving snake in the world!

Of all the mamba species, only the black mamba lives mostly on land (the other kinds live in trees); and is larger and more aggressive than the other kinds.

A black mamba can raise one thirds of its body when threatened, and can strike an enemy, including a man, on the head.

*eastern green mamba:

the smallest of the mambas 5 feet long, with small scales, and light shiny green body colour; feeds on birds, lizards and the small animals found in the trees; lives for about 14 years in captivity 

*western green mamba:

the biggest of the tree living mambas, with large scales, and green colour body, yellow scales with black edges on the long tail; grows to 6 feet long; feeds on birds and other small animals found in the trees; lives for 10-15 years

*Jameson’s mamba:

dull green colour; similar to other green mambas, with very minor differences; there are two sub-species – Jameson’s mamba and Jameson’s green mamba.

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