Finology Group â Insurtech Innovation Award 2024
Â
The black mamba project
1. Dendroaspis polylepis (Dendroaspis polylepis)
also known as the Black
Mamba is the worldâs
fastest
snake, and it is also one
of
the most venomous.
The
reptile has an average
lifespan in the wild of
eleven
years or more. The By: Nichole Fields
snake can
reach heights up to
fourteen Biology 101
feet, and can weigh up Photography
by Atlee
to three
and a half pounds.
Professor Swatski Hargis
2. The snake is not black at
all,
but instead a grey to
olive tone.
Its name refers to the
black
color in its mouth that it
displays as a defense
mechanism when
threatened.
Photography
by Kibuyu
4. The Black Mamba dwells
in the savannas and
rocky
hills of southern and
eastern
Africa. It spends its
nights
in burrows, or deep
among rocks
and timber. The cold
blooded
snake relies on external
heat to maintain its body
temperature, so it basks
in the sun during the day
on low tree branches and
rocks.
Photography by O. Taillon
5. The carnivorous snake
feeds on rodents, bats,
small mammals, birds,
and
lizards. The snake is
able to
swallow its prey whole,
and digest it within a
few
hours, unlike some
other snakes.
Photography by Tad Arensmeier
6. The worldâs fastest snake,
the Black Mamba, can
travel
speeds up to 12.5 miles
per hour. This speed is
normally
not used to hunt prey, but
to
escape danger.
Photography by A. Jaszlics
7. The Black Mamba is shy
in nature, and will usually
try to escape if it is
confronted.
However, if the snake is
threatened
it will raise its head up,
spreading its cobra
like-neck flap open. It will
then display
its black colored mouth,
and hiss.
The snake then strikes
repeatedly injecting
large amounts of potent
neuro-
and cardio toxin with
each strike.
The Black Mamba has the
ability to lift a
third of its body off the
ground to
attack if needed. Photography by thebutterflydiaries
8. The Black Mambaâs bite
is 100% fatal and can cause
death within 20 minutes.
Photography by Rod Patterson
9. The snake can deliver up to
400 milligrams of venom,
but
only 10 to 15 milligrams is
needed to kill an adult
human.
The venom is injected
through
two hollow fangs, which
remain
flat until the snake bites,
and movable
mouth bones erect them.
Photography by Guenter Leitenbauer
10. Symptoms Include:
Pain in the area bitten
Tingling sensation in the
extremities
Drooping eyelids(Eyelid Ptosis)
Tunnel Vision
Sweating
Excessive Salivation
Lack of Muscle Control
âŠâŠâŠâŠwithout medical
attention
the symptoms rapidly progress
to:
Convulsions
Respiratory Failure
Coma
And death due to suffocation
from paralysis
Photography by Brad
16. Works Cited
Leitenbauer, Guenter. âBlack Mamba(Dendroaspis polylepis).
Photograph. Flickr.Yahoo. 12 Aug. 2006. Web. 25 Nov. 2011.
O. Taillon. âAfrican savanna.â Photograph. Flickr.Yahoo. 24 July 2005.
Web. 25 Nov. 2011.
Hinweis der Redaktion
Dendroaspis polylepis also known as the Black Mamba is the worldâs fastest snakes, and it is also one of the most venomous. The reptile has an average lifespan in the wild of eleven years or more. The snake can reach heights up to fourteen feet, and can weigh up to three and a half pounds.
The Black Mamba is shy in nature, and will usually try to escape if it is confronted. However, if the snake is threatened it will raise its head up spreading its cobra-like neck flap open. It will then display its black colored mouth and hiss. The snake then strikes repeatedly injecting large amounts of potent neuro- and cardio toxin with each strike. The Black Mamba has the ability to lift a third of its body off the ground to attack if needed.
