The Black Mamba       

           I did not steal this from here http://fizzyenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/7-black-mamba-snake.jpg      

     Above are the fangs of the black mamba. Beneath the folded fangs in the coffin shaped head of the black mamba are the venom glands. The venom glands contain poison that is feared all across Africa; venom that can kill you in twenty minutes. This poison attacks the nervous system, especially the lungs and heart. With a length up to fourteen feet long and the ability to travel up to 11 miles an hour.This snake is feared all over the all others.

     The black mamba is part of the Dendroaspis family. The Dendroaspis family refers to land dwelling snakes in Africa.The black mamba is not named for its skin color, as you can see in the picture, but for the color of its mouth.

I did not steal this from here http://www.mybooktalk.com/mamba.jpg

     The black mamba is most commonly found in savannas, rocky places and open woodlands. The black mamba live in western Africa. Black mambas prefer to eat small animals such as rabbits. Like all snakes black mambas can dislocate their jaws to swallow animals whole. When threatened by a larger animal such as human or as shown in the movie below waterbuffalo the mamba will usually run away. But if forced to attack they will rear up to 1/3 of their body length and spread a flap of skin to intimidated the predator. If this does not work they will strike as a last resort. When they strike they bite multiple times usually aim for the body or the head. One bite of venom can kill 20 to 25 grown men.

     The black mamba lives in captivity for about 11 year. No one knows how long they live in the wild. Black mambas tend to lay their eggs in the spring. They take 20-50 days to hatch. Once the female lays her eggs in a naturally incubated place she abandons them.The young mambas major predator is the mongoose (a ferret like animal). They began to hunt and feed for themselves immediately after birth.

I did not steal this from http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/1724black-mamba.jpeg

          Though the black mamba is very deadly 99% of patients survive. Before it was 100% fatal.This is due to an antivenom developed by the SAIMR (South Africa Institute of Medical Reseach). Their venom makes almost instant paralysis that kills the victim by suffocation when their lungs are paralysed. Most deaths from the black mambas occur is in rural areas where you connot receive medical help in less than twenty minutes.   

     Domain: Eukaryote

     Kingdom: Animilia

     Phylum: Chordata

     Class: Reptilia

     Order: Squamata

     Family: Elepidae

     Genus: Dendroaspis

     Species: Dendroaspis polylepis 

 I did not steal this from here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am3ZY6_F91Q 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wikihttp://

http://www.kingsnake.com/elapids/black_mamba.htm