Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)

[Nightflight99]

I first started working with mambas (genus Dendroaspis) about 15 years ago, and there has since never been another group of reptiles that has fascinated me to the same degree. While the toxicity and lethality of their venom is what most people think of when they hear the word 'mamba,' there are lots of behavioral, aesthetic, and even cultural aspects that are equally as fascinating and intriguing.

I took the picture shown below of the business end of one of my black mambas (Dendroaspis polylepis) in 2004. It illustrates nicely why this species is called 'black mamba': it refers to the color of the inside of the mouth, rather than the color of the scales. In fact, black mambas are never truly black (although a few specimens come close). The notorious gaping, as shown here, is a typical defensive response that is displayed when the animals feel threatened. They typically also coil their neck at that point, and any further agitation will usually result in multiple strikes.

That specimen was not a people person, even though though he looks so charming in this picture...

[PatrickT]

I would never ever want be in same room as this animal.

[dannybgoode]

As I've come to expect from your collection - just outstanding.

Your photography skills are first class also, really show the snakes to their best.

[IW17]

Top notch. Love these.

[Nightflight99]

Thanks guys--glad you enjoy the picture! :)

I would never ever want be in same room as this animal.
Think about how people who are afraid of snakes react when you mention the snakes, and you try to explain to them that it is all about learning about them and understanding them. This is much like that--if you can get past the initial panic response of, "its a mamba," then you might find that these animals are more fascinating then scary, although they certainly demand a lot of respect.

Just some food for thought. :)

[Aaron_S]

Absolutely fascinating!

Mambas are incredible animals and as you said there's more to them than just the name. However, I still give them a healthy amount of respect and would not necessarily want to be in the same room either LOL.

[trailblazer295]

Have to say I'd be scared to be in the same room with a free venomous snake. Behind glass no problem. At least there bit more reasoning behind the fear, other snakes won't kill you if you get tagged and worst case is some lost blood. Illegal to own venomous snakes here so they are only seen in zoos.

[prairiepanda]

Black mambas are so pretty! Very cool shot, Nightflight.

There was once I was showing an MBK to someone and they insisted that it was extremely dangerous with highly potent venom. Tried to tell me it was a black mamba, so I showed them images like this and explained the namesake of the black mamba. They backed off on the mamba thing after that, but still insisted that the MBK was going to kill everyone in the room with its "lethal venom." Thankfully the other people in the room trusted my word over his.

[Nightflight99]

There was once I was showing an MBK to someone and they insisted that it was extremely dangerous with highly potent venom. Tried to tell me it was a black mamba
This seems to be a universal problem all over the world. I've done a lot of international field work for research, and in many countries just about any snake is immediately labeled as whatever the most notorious local species is. For example, throughout sub-Saharan Africa, anything that is green or grey/brown/black is always considered to be a mamba. In Latin America, the culprit is usually a rattlesnake or a species of lancehead.

[pet_snake_78]

Ha Ha ya I think all the TV shows effect people in general, even snake people. I mean just the word mamba and it's like o jesus jumped up, it's a mamba run for your life lol

[Jim Smith]

This seems to be a universal problem all over the world. I've done a lot of international field work for research, and in many countries just about any snake is immediately labeled as whatever the most notorious local species is. For example, throughout sub-Saharan Africa, anything that is green or grey/brown/black is always considered to be a mamba. In Latin America, the culprit is usually a rattlesnake or a species of lancehead.

There is a fair amount of that level of thinking here in the US as well. I live on a 50 acre lake that, as expected, has plenty of water snakes, mainly banded or brown water snakes. Whenever I talk to anyone on the lake they ALWAYS insist that they see Water Moccasins "all the time". I am the lake manager and fish the lake more than any other residents and in the past 10 years, I've never seen a Water Moccasin on this lake. They seem to think that every water snake is a moccasin and as such should be killed immediately.

[Nightflight99]

Whenever I talk to anyone on the lake they ALWAYS insist that they see Water Moccasins "all the time".
It really is amazing how many people get that wrong. I once had a fellow snake enthusiast swear up and down that there were tons of cottonmouths in the canal behind his house. When I went out there with him, they all turned out to be harmless water snakes. He was so convinced that they were cottonmouths that he actually freaked out when I grabbed one of the water snakes with my hands to prove it to him.

[PatrickT]

Thanks guys--glad you enjoy the picture! :)


Think about how people who are afraid of snakes react when you mention the snakes, and you try to explain to them that it is all about learning about them and understanding them. This is much like that--if you can get past the initial panic response of, "its a mamba," then you might find that these animals are more fascinating then scary, although they certainly demand a lot of respect.

Just some food for thought. :)

Its not like that i find them bad. They are fascinating animals but i promise you i would definitly panic if i would be in same room with a mamba.

[pet_snake_78]

Did you ever hear the one about the guy that fell into a pit of mambas? He was envenomated like 30 times. When they finally got his body to the coroner, there was a mamba actually hiding inside his mouth which then bite the coroner and because it was a baby -- he fell over dead after 2steps.

[Nightflight99]

Did you ever hear the one about the guy that fell into a pit of mambas? He was envenomated like 30 times. When they finally got his body to the coroner, there was a mamba actually hiding inside his mouth which then bite the coroner and because it was a baby -- he fell over dead after 2steps.
You forgot to mention that after the baby mamba bit the coroner, it also bit its own tail, forming a loop, and then proceeded to roll down the highway into on-coming traffic, which is rumored to have caused the car crash that killed Princess Diane. One of Diane's fans was so enraged by her demise, that he in turn decided to shoot Kennedy in Dallas. In an unexpected twist, Kobe Bryant decided to retire from the NBA, after reports that he, in fact, was the mamba that had caused the aforementioned atrocities.

Amazing, these snakes. ;)

[SnoopySnake]

Wow, very nice. Love mambas but a little too deadly for my tastes.

[reptiledude987]

You forgot to mention that after the baby mamba bit the coroner, it also bit its own tail, forming a loop, and then proceeded to roll down the highway into on-coming traffic, which is rumored to have caused the car crash that killed Princess Diane. One of Diane's fans was so enraged by her demise, that he in turn decided to shoot Kennedy in Dallas. In an unexpected twist, Kobe Bryant decided to retire from the NBA, after reports that he, in fact, was the mamba that had caused the aforementioned atrocities.

Amazing, these snakes. ;)

OMG love this reply way too much lol. Might this have ahd somthing to do with the Chris Brown anf Riahanna incident as well?

I wouldnt want one personally however I woule love to interact with one with the supervision and guidence of an expierenced handler.