The black mamba was first described in 1864 by Albert Günther, a German-born British zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist. Soon after, a subspecies was identified, Dendroaspis polylepis antinorii (Peters, 1873), but this is no longer accepted as distinct. The genus and species name are derived from Ancient Greek words – Dendroaspis meaning "tree asp" (dendro is "tree", while aspis is "asp" which is understood to mean a "venomous snake") and polylepis, "many scaled", from poly "many" and lepis "scales". The name "black mamba" is given to the snake not because of its body colour but because of the ink-black colouration of the inside of its mouth, which it displays when threatened.In 1896, Boulenger combined the species (Dendroaspis polylepis) as a whole with the eastern green mamba, Dendroaspis angusticeps, and they were considered a single species from 1896 until 1946.
It is one of four species in the African snake genus Dendroaspis that are known as mambas.
The adult black mamba's back skin colour is olive, brownish, gray, or sometimes khaki. A young snake is lighter, but not light enough to be confused with the different species of green mamba. Its underbody is cream-coloured, 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 dark blue to inky black. The head is large but narrow and elongated, with the shape of a coffin. It is a proteroglyphous snake, meaning it has immovable, fixed fangs at the front of the maxilla. The eyes are dark brown to black, with a silvery-white to yellow edge on the pupils. These snakes are strong but slender in body: adult specimens are 2.5 to 3 m (8.2 to 9.8 ft) in length on average,but specimens measuring 3.1 to 3.75 m (10 to 12.3 ft) are relatively common, and some specimens have reached lengths of 4.3 to 4.5 m (14 to 15 ft). The longest scientifically measured, wild-caught black mamba recorded was 4.48 metres (14.7 ft) long, found in Zimbabwe. Adult black mambas' slender but powerful body can typically weigh from 1.6 to 3.1 kg (3.5 to 6.8 lb). There is no real sexual dimorphism, and both male and female snakes of this species have a similar appearance and tend to be similar in size.The species is the second-longest venomous snake in the world, exceeded in length only by the king cobra.Information regarding the lifespan of snakes in the wild is sparse; the longest recorded lifespan of a captive black mamba is 14 years, but actual maximum lifespans could be much greater.As they age, their colouration tends to get darker.
There are 23–25 rows of smooth dorsal scales at midbody (rarely 21 rows), 248–281 ventrals and 109–132 paired subcaudals. The anal shield is divided. There are 7–10 upper labials, with the fourth (or third and fourth) entering the eye, and 11–13 lower labials (sometimes 10 or 14). There are three (sometimes four) preoculars and three or four (sometimes two or five) postoculars. Temporals are variable, usually 2+3.
The black mamba has adapted to a variety of climates, ranging from savanna, woodlands, farmlands, rocky slopes, dense forests and humid swamps.The grassland and savanna woodland/shrubs that extend all the way from southern and eastern Africa to central and western Africa, eastern and southern Africa are the black mamba's typical habitat.The snake prefers more arid environments, such as semiarid, dry bush country, light woodland, and rocky outcrops. This species likes areas with numerous hills, as well as riverine forests. Black mambas often make use of abandoned termite mounds and hollow trees for shelter. The abandoned termite mounds are especially used when the snake is looking for somewhere to cool off, as the mounds are sort of a "natural air-conditioning" system. The structure of these mounds is very complex and elaborate. They have a network of holes, ducts, and chimneys that allow air to circulate freely, drawing heat away from the nest during the day – though without taking too much valuable moisture – while preventing the nest cooling too much at night.As a territorial species, though, the black mamba will always return to its territory or lair if left undisturbed.
It is one of four species in the African snake genus Dendroaspis that are known as mambas.
The adult black mamba's back skin colour is olive, brownish, gray, or sometimes khaki. A young snake is lighter, but not light enough to be confused with the different species of green mamba. Its underbody is cream-coloured, 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 dark blue to inky black. The head is large but narrow and elongated, with the shape of a coffin. It is a proteroglyphous snake, meaning it has immovable, fixed fangs at the front of the maxilla. The eyes are dark brown to black, with a silvery-white to yellow edge on the pupils. These snakes are strong but slender in body: adult specimens are 2.5 to 3 m (8.2 to 9.8 ft) in length on average,but specimens measuring 3.1 to 3.75 m (10 to 12.3 ft) are relatively common, and some specimens have reached lengths of 4.3 to 4.5 m (14 to 15 ft). The longest scientifically measured, wild-caught black mamba recorded was 4.48 metres (14.7 ft) long, found in Zimbabwe. Adult black mambas' slender but powerful body can typically weigh from 1.6 to 3.1 kg (3.5 to 6.8 lb). There is no real sexual dimorphism, and both male and female snakes of this species have a similar appearance and tend to be similar in size.The species is the second-longest venomous snake in the world, exceeded in length only by the king cobra.Information regarding the lifespan of snakes in the wild is sparse; the longest recorded lifespan of a captive black mamba is 14 years, but actual maximum lifespans could be much greater.As they age, their colouration tends to get darker.
There are 23–25 rows of smooth dorsal scales at midbody (rarely 21 rows), 248–281 ventrals and 109–132 paired subcaudals. The anal shield is divided. There are 7–10 upper labials, with the fourth (or third and fourth) entering the eye, and 11–13 lower labials (sometimes 10 or 14). There are three (sometimes four) preoculars and three or four (sometimes two or five) postoculars. Temporals are variable, usually 2+3.
The black mamba has adapted to a variety of climates, ranging from savanna, woodlands, farmlands, rocky slopes, dense forests and humid swamps.The grassland and savanna woodland/shrubs that extend all the way from southern and eastern Africa to central and western Africa, eastern and southern Africa are the black mamba's typical habitat.The snake prefers more arid environments, such as semiarid, dry bush country, light woodland, and rocky outcrops. This species likes areas with numerous hills, as well as riverine forests. Black mambas often make use of abandoned termite mounds and hollow trees for shelter. The abandoned termite mounds are especially used when the snake is looking for somewhere to cool off, as the mounds are sort of a "natural air-conditioning" system. The structure of these mounds is very complex and elaborate. They have a network of holes, ducts, and chimneys that allow air to circulate freely, drawing heat away from the nest during the day – though without taking too much valuable moisture – while preventing the nest cooling too much at night.As a territorial species, though, the black mamba will always return to its territory or lair if left undisturbed.
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