Black mamba - a description where it dwells, features

The black mamba is ranked as the most dangerous reptile on the planet. The exotic snake has long been known to the inhabitants of Africa, it belongs to the aspid family. In today's material you will find everything related to this inhabitant of forests, as well as explore the most important aspects. We will not reveal all the cards, sorting out the features in turn.

Description

1. The poisonous member of the family prefers to live in Africa and in nearby territories. Her external data and scream that the meeting can end sadly. Dimensional characteristics put the mambo in second place after the cobra in danger. Individuals in length can grow up to 4 meters, but, as a rule, there are much smaller representatives of 3 meters each. This reptile moves quickly, and can reach speeds of up to 12 km / h. Therefore, in a collision it is quite difficult to avoid danger.
2. Despite the fact that the mambo was called black, it is not so dark in color of the case. The name of the individual received due to the special coloring of the oral cavity, this zone is black and frightening when the snake is in the attack. Mamba itself is pigmented with olive, greenish-brown, may be gray-brown. Some members of the species have a metallic sheen.
3. The tail section is much darker than the rest of the hull. The scales in this area are dark olive or so. The abdominal part is whitish, dirty, sometimes beige with brown patches. Juveniles are much lighter than the adult generation. Due to the specific color of these data reptiles conveniently masked in forests and other natural environments, so the collision will not immediately get to understand what happened.
4. This snake is not as compacted as other reptiles. She is thin, rather slim. However, among all the other mambas is considered quite large. As for the weight category, individuals grow by weight to 1.5 kg. In the mouth are sharp teeth that are pulled out almost 7 mm. in length. It is thanks to the fangs that the body of the victim is filled with poison during the collision.When the reptile attacks, it seems as if the individual is smiling. But do not wait for her indulgence, it is important to remember about the toxicity and danger.

Habitat

1. It has already been mentioned that representatives of the family prefer to live in Africa. Most snakes like the southern, eastern and central parts. For successful existence, they prefer arid terrain. Very often these individuals are found in savanna and light forest. In the reptile of this species there is no peculiarity to climb trees, they prefer to dwell on the ground. May occasionally climb into the bushes or twist hemp to disguise.
2. African reptiles are common in various parts of the planet. They are found in Somalia, Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia and nearby territories. There are reptiles of the poisonous category in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, etc. Local residents have long been aware of the danger, trying to bypass the mambo side.
3. If we compare this representative of the family with herself, we should say that she is not very adapted to life at the top of the trees.Snakes love to dwell in the bushes, hiding and waiting. In order to warm the individuals crawl out on a small stump or climb on a small tree. They can be conveniently located at the very top of the shrub, but they spend most of their time on the ground. Some individual representatives occupy empty holes or hollows.
4. Since the distribution area extends far beyond the usual places, you can meet dangerous reptiles in the forest belt with fallen trees or near water sources (river valleys in particular). These snakes spend a lot of time building nests for future offspring. They choose tropics for breeding, as well as dense thickets where they can hide their offspring. However, individuals do not rise to a height of more than 1 km. above sea level, although there are exceptions.

The enemies

1. Even the fact that the reptile representative being discussed is very dangerous does not exclude the presence of enemies in her natural environment. Especially often large mantra birds hunt for mambo, who wish to eat.
2. Among these, serpent edema such as brown or black should be distinguished.Also on the mambo hunts a snake, which from birth is immune to all poisons of African reptiles. Accordingly, the bite of the mamba does not threaten death.
3. It is impossible not to take into account the mongooses, whose immunity to the poison of the black mamba strengthens over time. They deftly avoid attack, so they try to hunt these reptiles as often as possible.

Breeding

1. Discussed members of the family prefer to live alone, but may occasionally stray into groups. This is especially true of the period when the mating season begins. To build a pair of mambas, they live together for some time, then crawl into their places. Reproduction is carried out in the spring. Males are looking for a life partner, they can fight for one female day and night.
2. Marriage games are tough. Males intertwine with their bodies, raise their heads high, trying to show who is stronger. They beat their heads, riveting the attention of the opposite sex. Then the female chooses a winner. The fight continues until the loser crawls to the side.When the attack continues, the poison does not apply.
3. From the middle of summer, the females in question are beginning to lay eggs. It occurs in a secluded inconspicuous place. In laying there are up to 16 pieces. After about 3 months, little serpents are born. It is worth noting that the young are born fully formed individuals.
4. They can lead an independent lifestyle and not depend on their parents. In addition, small individuals already have a deadly poison. It is for this very reason that youngsters do not need guardianship and are able to gather food for themselves. Moreover, after the birth of the serpent, they have a length of about 0.6 m.
5. They swallow small rodents without any problems. Just a year later, the young growth already grows to 2 m. At such sizes, they are already beginning to hunt for larger prey. In the wild, black mambas live to be 12 years old, no more.

Characteristics

1. The individuals in question do not have the best reputation even in their native Africa. When the locals hear about such a snake, they shudder. On such a continent, this individual is revered, respected and feared. The locals black mamba is a symbol of death.
2. There are certain areas in Africa where the population of the individuals in question is strongly predominant. From here there are many myths and legends about such a snake. People are afraid of the black mamba due to the fact that individuals are one of the fastest and most dangerous reptiles.
3. The presented individual has agility and mobility. A characteristic feature is that such a snake can quickly and silently slide on the ground. In this case, the individual raised head. In addition, while moving, the snake moves at its usual speed of 12 km / h.
4. In addition, the locals in the legends love to exaggerate a little, they say that such reptiles can reach speeds to incredible levels. Therefore, a man from her can not be saved. In fact, despite all the tales and not the best character, when meeting with a man, snakes try to avoid contact.
5. When an individual notices people, it freezes. At the first opportunity, she tries to crawl away quickly. A black mamba can attack only if you have driven her into a corner or leave no other choice. If you do not leave the snake a chance to escape, it shows aggression. It is worth noting that the individual does not hiss.
6. Still, at first the reptile tries to warn the abuser to retreat. To do this, she relies on the tail and takes a vertical stand. The snake opens its mouth wide and waits. If the person does not immediately retreat, the mamba inflicts several quick and deadly shots to the face or body.
7. In rare cases, when a snake tries to crawl away and a person meets on its way, it can attack right on the move. Because of this, the victim does not even immediately understand what happened. He became the unwitting victim of the most dangerous snake in the world. After some time, the first symptoms of the bite will begin to appear.
8. Do not forget that the individuals in question are very dangerous. Their main weapon is a deadly poison. If the individual in question bites a person, it will be fatal for him. However, you should not be upset too soon, there is an antidote to such cases.
9. The problem is that you need to act very quickly. A person dies after 1 hour due to paralysis and respiratory failure. As for the natural feeding of such snakes, they often attack birds, mice and other rodents. Activity shows in the afternoon.

In this material we studied all the features affecting the most dangerous individuals.Despite its poisonousness, the mambas have enemies who, from birth, are immune to the poison of this reptile. Snakes fear the mongooses and some individuals from the order of the sebaceous. Partly for this reason, it cannot be said that their existence passes without threats. They lead a bush life, develop a great speed of movement.

Video: black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)