Mamba

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Dendroaspis)

iDendroaspis

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Dendroaspis

Species

D. angusticeps - Eastern green mamba
D. jamesoni - Jameson's mamba
D. jamesoni jamesoni
D. jamesoni kaimosea
D. polylepis - Black mamba
D. polylepis polylepis
D. viridis - Western green mamba

For other uses, see Mamba (disambiguation).

Mambas, of the genus Dendroaspis, are fast-moving tree-dwelling snakes of Africa. ("Dendroaspis" is literally "tree snake".) The black mamba is the largest venomous snake in Africa, with an extremely potent neurotoxic venom that is often fatal to humans without access to proper first aid and subsequent antivenom treatment. Prior to the availability of antivenom, envenomations by members of this genus had a nearly 100% fatality rate. However, with antivenom being much more available today, fatalities have become much rarer.

The Western green mamba (D. viridis) and Eastern green mamba, (D. angusticeps), although less venomous than the Black mamba (D. polylepis), can also be rapidly fatal. They are slightly smaller, and are arboreal, whereas the latter is primarily terrestrial.

The black mamba is not named for the color of its body (which is usually a shade of grey), but for the highly pigmented interior of its mouth, which it gapes as a threat display. Many people believe that the Black Mamba will actually chase and attack humans. This is however an utter myth, as humans are their predators, rather than their prey. For that reason, mambas generally avoid contact with humans. However, if a mamba feels threatened by a human, it may defend itself fiercely.

In contrast to all other species in this genus, which are arboreal, black mambas reside in hollow insect mounds, abandoned burrows, and rock crevices. They are diurnal. During the day they actively hunt their prey of small mammals, birds and lizards. They return to the same lair nightly.

Mambas are related to the cobras (Elapids), as can be seen during their threat display, when they stretch a slightly smaller 'hood' while gaping their mouth. Unlike most other snakes, mambas will strike repeatedly if cornered, and have been reported to bring down a baby giraffe and a lion with their venom.