Black mamba

Identification

Despite its name, the black mamba is not black. Adults are olive, brownish, grey or sometimes khaki, with a cream belly, and young snakes are lighter grey or olive¹. It is a long, slender snake with smooth scales, a long coffin-shaped head and dark eyes^1,2. When threatened it gapes to show the inky-black lining of its mouth and may spread a narrow hood^1,3.

Adults are usually 2–3 m long, averaging about 2.2–2.7 m¹. It is the longest venomous snake in Africa, reaching up to about 4.5 m, although snakes over 3.8 m are rare³.

Distribution

Black mambas live across much of sub-Saharan Africa. The Reptile Database lists them from Senegal and Guinea in the west, through Cameroon and the Central African Republic, to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia in the east, and south to Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa⁴. They are most common in eastern and southern Africa, while records from West Africa are scattered¹.

The species has been recorded from lowlands up to about 1,800 m above sea level¹.

Habitat

The black mamba prefers wooded savanna, rocky hills and riverside forest where rocks or fallen trees give cover¹. It often shelters in hollow trees, termite mounds, holes in anthills and rock crevices, and if left undisturbed it may return to the same lair for a long time^1,3.

Although it mostly travels on the ground, it is partly arboreal and climbs trees quickly and easily^1,4.

Behaviour

The black mamba is active by day, usually from a few hours after sunrise until about an hour before dusk¹. It spends a lot of time basking, often near a hole or crevice it can slip into if disturbed^1,3. It is shy and quick to escape, and contrary to popular stories it does not chase people^3,5.

If cornered, it raises its head high, opens its black mouth, spreads a narrow hood and hisses, and it may then strike several times in quick succession^1,5. If the person moves slowly away, the snake will usually retreat¹.

Diet

Black mambas eat mainly small mammals, such as rodents, squirrels and hyraxes (dassies), and occasionally birds¹. They usually strike their prey once or twice and wait for it to be overcome by the venom before swallowing it¹.

Because they eat many rodents, black mambas help to keep pest numbers down¹.

Reproduction

The black mamba lays eggs⁴. Mating takes place in early spring, and rival males may wrestle by twisting their bodies together and raising their heads off the ground¹.

Females lay about 6 to 17 eggs in a burrow or other sheltered place and then leave them. The eggs hatch after roughly 80 to 90 days¹. Hatchlings look after themselves from the start and already have working venom glands¹.

Venom and medical significance

The black mamba is dangerous to people. The World Health Organization lists it among the snakes of highest medical importance (Category 1) in many African countries⁶. Its venom is mainly neurotoxic: toxins such as α-neurotoxins and dendrotoxins act on nerves and muscles and can cause paralysis, including of the muscles used for breathing⁷. Symptoms have been reported within 10 to 15 minutes of a bite, and breathing difficulty can develop within half an hour^3,7.

Bites are quite rare. Most happen when someone gets very close to a basking mamba or corners one in a confined space⁵. Quick hospital treatment, which may include antivenom and breathing support, is what saves lives⁷. Anyone bitten must seek medical care immediately.

Conservation

The IUCN Red List classifies the black mamba as Least Concern, based on an assessment published in 2021⁸. It has a very wide range and is still common in many parts of south and east Africa¹.

Local threats include the spread of human settlement and people killing snakes out of fear¹.

Similar species

None of the other snakes on this site share its range. In southern Africa, a black mamba can be confused with a female boomslang, which is also long, slender and usually brown². Boomslangs have keeled scales that give the body a rough look, a noticeably pointed head and very large eyes. Black mambas have smooth scales, a long coffin-shaped head, dark eyes and a black mouth lining^1,2. Young black mambas are grey or olive, but not light enough to be mistaken for green mambas¹. These differences are not a safe basis for handling any snake. Keep your distance from all snakes.

In captivity

The black mamba is not a suitable pet. Keeping one is generally a bad idea, and fatal or near-fatal bites to experienced keepers have been reported¹. Recent medical reports of black mamba bites from Europe have mostly involved breeders or keepers of exotic snakes⁷.

Snake-safety experts advise never approaching a black mamba closely and never trying to catch or kill one⁵.