Black Mamba

[Snakes Incorporated]

Black Mamba

Do you want to know just how deadly a black mamba's venom is?

How toxic is it?
As little as two drops of venom can kill a person and a mamba can have up to 20 drops of venom in its fangs.
What's in it?
Black mamba venom contains neurotoxins and cardiotoxins. Neurotoxins cause damage to the nervous system, such as parts of the brain controlling motor functions, while cardiotoxins attack the heart.
What are its effects?
If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten by a black mamba, you are likely to experience the following side effects:
· Slight local swelling and/or pain, described as burning;
· Drooping or heavy eyelids;
· Loss of control of tongue or jaw;
· Slurred speech;
· Mental confusion;
· Blurred vision and dilated pupils;
· Paralysis of all muscle groups;
· Loss of tendon reflex;
· Drowsiness;
· Respiratory distress.
The bite is life-threatening if these symptoms appear within an hour of the bite. Failing lungs, convulsions and coma precede death.
Is it always fatal?
Not all black mamba bites are fatal. It depends on how much venom was injected and where. If the venom has gotten directly into the bloodstream and not into surrounding tissue, it could be fatal. Survival is also dependent upon how fast treatment is administered after a bite. Immediate hospitalization is instrumental.

There is a black mamba antivenin, but some may be allergic. In some cases allowing the human body to heal itself, with immediate medical care, is the best course of action. Paralysis can completely disappear with no after effects. As it turns out, black mamba venom can only paralyze temporarily. After about 12 hours, the venom molecules start to dislodge and are flushed out of the body's system.


Check this out: http://animal.discovery.com/fansites...rt/expert.html

[cornmorphs]

to be honest i thought they were more venomous than that, but still awesome, wouldnt wanna argue with one

[s]

i met a man in kenya's bio ken snake farm, (they make anti venom for mambas) and he has survived a few bites from this beast! they are stunning animals, his brother however, didn't survive the last bite he got!

a pic of said snake from the farm...

[s]

and just cos i can....here is a pic of the green mamba, also taken at bio ken

[Anthony]

Oh thats terrable, of course that was his last bite if he died

[Snakes Incorporated]

Department of Vertebrates
Herpetology Collection
BLACK MAMBAS (Dendroaspis polylepis) (Very Dangerous)

This specimen is hardly ever pitch black in colour but the lining of the mouth being dark is where the name has derived from. Of all the African snakes the Black Mamba is the most feared and is known for being aggressive when agitated or confronted and will strike with deadly precision. The outer colour varies between a pale grey-green to a gunmetal blue. The head is also distinctive in being narrowly shaped and having round eyes with round pupils. The snake being neurotoxic causes respiratory failure and leaves the pray paralysed which causes death in 7-15 hours.
The average length of a specimen varies between 2 to 2.5 metres but an exceptional case was recorded of 4.5 metres. This snake has quite a large distribution stretching from Senegal (West Africa) to Somalia in the East down to Pondoland (Port St Johns) including Namibia and Angola. They are absent from Equatorial forests and desert areas. They prefer more open Bushveld / Savanna with an attitude not exceeding 1500 metres.
A batch of 12 to 17 eggs are usually laid but can be as few as 9 or 10 and are oval shaped hatching between 80-90 days. The young are usually dark in colour and measures between 40 to 60 cm in length.

[s]

well yes, it was just a bit of humor :P lol it was an amazing place, and you wouldn't believe the work they do, and how many lives they save!

wanna see more pics of the snakes they had there???? go on you know you want too....scream if you want to go faster

[Anthony]

Yeh, more pics, they risking there lives to save other, i rate/envy people like that

[Snakes Incorporated]

I am a volunteer snake catcher / rescuer in the Cape Town area. We do not get Black Mamba down south but I have caught some strange escapees so have learned to expect anything on a call out but never a Mamba as yet.

[eeji]

that green mamba is absolutely beautiful!