Austin Stevens: Snakemaster-In Search of The Black Mamba

Animal Planet Documentary

Austin Stevens handles a black mamba in the Namibian desert.

Black mamba

The Black Mamba (nicknamed The Shadow of Death) (Dendroaspis polylepis) is an elapid snake. It is the largest venomous snake in Africa and the second longest venomous snake in the world. Only the King Cobra is longer. Adult black mambas have an average length of 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) and a maximum length of 4.5 meters (~14 ft).[1] The Black Mamba receives its name from the black coloration inside of its mouth, rather than their skin color which is a gray to olive tone. The Black Mamba is reputed to be the fastest moving snake in the world, and has been claimed to move at up to 19.2 km/h (12 mph)

Behavior

A single bite from a Black Mamba may inject enough venom to kill 20-40 grown men, easily killing one unless the appropriate anti-venom is administered in time. When cornered, they will readily attack. When in the striking position, the mamba flattens its neck, hisses very loudly and displays its inky black mouth and deadly fangs. It can rear up around one-third of its body from the ground which allows it to reach heights of approximately four feet. When warding off a threat, the black mamba usually delivers multiple strikes, injecting its potent neuro- and cardiotoxin with each strike, often attacking the body or head, unlike most other snakes. It can strike up to 12 times in a row.

If left undisturbed, Black Mambas tend to live in their lairs for long periods of time, which are often vacated insect mounds or hollow trees. Black mambas are diurnal snakes that hunt prey actively day or night. When hunting small animals, the Black Mamba delivers a single deadly bite and backs off, waiting for the neurotoxin in its venom to paralyze the prey. When killing a bird, however, the Black Mamba will cling to its prey, preventing it from flying away.

Venom

Black Mambas are among the most venomous snakes in the world. With a LD50 of 0.25-0.32 mg/kg, the Black Mamba is 3 times as venomous as the Cape Cobra, 5 times as venomous as the King Cobra and about 40 times as venomous as the Gaboon viper.[4] Black Mamba venom contains powerful, fast-acting neurotoxins and cardiotoxins, including calciseptine.[5] Its bite delivers about 100-120 mg of venom on average, however it can deliver up to 400 mg of venom; 10 to 15 mg is deadly to a human adult. The initial symptom of the bite is local pain in the bite area, although not as severe as snakes with hemotoxins. The victim then experiences a tingling sensation in the mouth and extremities, ptosis, diplopia, dysphagia, tunnel vision, ophthalmoparesis, severe confusion, dysarthria, fever, diaphoresis (excessive perspiration), excessive salivation (including foaming of the mouth and nose), and pronounced ataxia (lack of muscle control). If the victim does not receive medical attention, symptoms rapidly progress to severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, lymphadenopathy, dyspnea (shortness of breath), epistaxis, pallor, shock, nephrotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and paralysis. Eventually, the victim experiences convulsions, respiratory arrest, coma, and then death. Without treatment the mortality rate is nearly 100%,[1] the highest among venomous snakes. Depending on the nature of a bite, death can, and has resulted in as little as 15-30 minutes or it may take up to 120-180 minutes.[6] Factors associated with the nature of the bite include penetration of one or both fangs, amount of venom injected, location of the bite, and proximity to major blood vessels. The health of the snake and the interval since it last used its venom mechanism may also be a factor. The health, size, age, and psychological state of the individual bitten is also a determining factor.