Page 6 - Deadliest Snakes

feet (1,829 m), but this is much less common. Wher-
ever it settles, a black mamba creates a lair inside a
safe, enclosed spot, such as an old termite mound, an

abandoned animal burrow, or a rocky crevice. It will live
in this lair for a long period, perhaps even for years, if
its environment is not disturbed and it is able to find
enough food.
Black mambas stick to their lairs during the nighttime
hours. They emerge during the daytime, when the sun-
light can warm their bodies. They are sometimes seen
basking on rocks before the day becomes too hot. Oc-
casionally they may also climb into trees and rest on high

branches. Climbing behavior is more common among
young black mambas, which are smaller and more vul-
nerable to ground-dwelling predators. Slithering into tree-
tops helps them to stay safe as they grow and develop.

On the Hunt

A big part of the black mamba’s day is devoted to hunt-
ing. This snake eats mostly small mammals, such as
rock hyrax (furry, rodent-like creatures about the size of
guinea pigs), bush babies, and bats. It will also eat birds
or other snakes.
The black mamba is an ambush hunter. This means
that instead of chasing prey, it settles into a hidden area

and stays very still. It patiently watches and waits. If the
snake is lucky, a small animal will eventually wander too
close. When this happens, the black mamba reacts with
lightning speed. It lunges into the open, its black mouth
gaping to expose its sharp fangs. It buries these fangs
in the prey’s body and injects a killing dose of venom.
When the strike is complete, the black mamba pulls
back to a safe distance, where it will not be bitten or

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