Chordates • Earth.com

Black mamba

(Dendroaspis polylepis)

galery

Description

The body of the black mamba is rather thin and muscular,characteristics that guarantee a certain agility to an animal able to move to the sustained speed of about 20 km / h,for this reason,when compared with other species,it is commonly considered the most snake fast in the world.This snake is also able to move easily on any terrain,and can rise from the ground for three quarters of its length,therefore 3 meters in the largest specimens,which allows it to easily reach even the trees.bDespite its common name,this snake is not black: the back has a more or less dark olive color,while the ventral region is cream-colored.The name of black mamba derives from the characteristic black color of the inside of the mouth,which the snake makes visible when it opens up because it feels threatened.This characteristic,combined with the particular shape of its head (which resembles a coffin),its speed,its aggressiveness and the lethality of its poison has given the black mamba the nickname of "shadow of death".

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Family:Elapidae
Genus:Dendroaspis
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