RE: The most Venomous Snake in Africa - by @mambaman

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The most Venomous Snake in Africa - by @mambaman

in snake •  7 years ago 

Hi brother @gavvet
How are you today
Good evening
Yes, it is one of the secrets of nature in our beautiful continent of Africa
We hope to visit my page and support

The Black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a fast, nervous, lethally venomous snake, and when threatened, becomes highly aggressive. These snakes have always been blamed for numerous human fatalities, and the African mythology exaggerates their capabilities to legendary proportions.

The stories about the black mambas entering houses and killing everyone inside or chasing people for miles are all obvious exaggerations. Due to their amazing speed, some African myths make them capable of outrunning even horses, which isn't true.

The Black mamba lives in the savannas and rocky hills of southern and eastern Africa. Its fragmented range includes many African countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Angola, Mozambique, Swaziland, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

They can be found as high up as 5,900 ft (1800 m) but they usually live in lower altitudes up to 3,300 ft (1000m). They commonly spend nights hiding in holes, disused burrows or deep among fallen trees or rocks. The black mamba isn't considered an arboreal snake, but they are sometimes found up in bushes and small trees.

The black mamba is commonly placed among the most venomous snakes in the world lists. It packs a venom 3 times more toxic than that of the Cape Cobra, over 5 times that of the King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) and a staggering 40 times more toxic as the Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica).

Black Mambas

For these reasons, the Black Mamba is considered by many experts the world’s deadliest snake together with the Coastal Taipan. ​These snakes are also known as by other names like the Southern brown mamba, Black-mouthed mamba or Swart mamba.

​They are also among the fastest snakes in the world and can slither at speeds of up to 12.5 mph (20 km/h), but it will use its speed not to hunt but to escape threats. Their average lifespan in the wild is about 11 years.

​They get their name, not from the color of their skin, which can range from olive to grayish, but rather from the distinct black color present inside their mouth, which they are eager to show when threatened probably as a mean of intimidation.

Black mambas can grow up to 14 feet (4 m) in length, but on average they reach lengths of around 8 feet (2.5 m). They have a long and slender body, covered with smooth scales, and it has a distinctive narrow and coffin-shaped head.

The Black mamba is like most snakes shy by nature, and will almost always seek to escape when confronted. However, if they get cornered, they will raise their heads, sometimes with up to two-fifths of their body off the ground, spread their cobra-like hood, open their black mouths, and hiss violently.

If an attacker persists, the mamba will strike not once, but several times, and in the process injects large amounts of the potent neuro and cardiotoxin present in their venom with each strike.

Younger black mamba snakes are hunted and killed by mongooses but even the deadly adult black mambas are preyed upon by birds of prey like the secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) and large eagles.

The Atlanta Zoo rename its black mamba snake in a tribute to the now-retired basketball player Kobe Bryant, who's nickname was "The Black Mamba".

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I lived in Africa,Congo, for 2 years. Came across many types of snakes. Even once tripped over a Boa. The only snake that brought chills up and down my spine was the BLACK MAMBA. Never ever want to have another encounter with that Devil. Nice post and comments, well done. Have to up vote this. thanks

They're called black mamba due to the color of their mouth, their skin is grey in color. See green mamba also

For these reasons, the Black Mamba is considered by many experts the world’s deadliest snake together with the Coastal Taipan.

The black mamba and coastal taipan have nothing on the Inland Taipan (Small Scale Fierce snake). And I have never heard of the Mamba being up there with the Eastern Brown snakes either. (Just confirmed from several sources that Fierce snake and Eastern Brownies are number 1&2.) If you have contradictory evidence that the Mamba and taipan are actually more venomous than these 2, please link to the source, as I find that to be either really interesting or erroneous information.

For ease, this is from the wiki page

Inland taipan
Inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus)

The Inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is considered the most venomous snake in the world with a murine LD50 value of 0.025 mg/kg SC.[6][90] Ernst and Zug et al. 1996 list a value of 0.01 mg/kg SC, which makes it the most venomous snake in the world in their study too. They have an average venom yield of 44 mg.[90] Bites from this species have a mortality rate of 80% if left untreated, although it is very rare for this species to bite. This species is known to be a very shy, reclusive and a laid-back snake that will nearly always slither away from disturbance. It is not an aggressive species and rarely strikes.[90]

Eastern brown snake
Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

The Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) has a venom LD50 value of 0.053 mg SC according to (Brown, 1973) and a value of 0.0365 mg SC according to (Ernst and Zug et al. 1996).[5] According to both studies, it is the second most venomous snake in the world. Average venom yield is 2–6 mg according to (Meier and White, 1995). According to (Minton, 1974) average venom yield (dry weight) is between 5–10 mg.[91] Maximum venom yield for this species is 155 mg.[8] This species is legendary for its bad temper, aggression, and for its speed. This species is responsible for more deaths every year in Australia than any other group of snakes.[92]

So, the Mamba might be more dangerous as it is more aggro, but our 2 are the more venomous. I know that where their ranges overlap, the Eastern Brown will predate upon Coastal taipans.