It is very fast (it reaches speeds of 12 miles per hour) and can also climb very fast. It is known around the world for its dangerous venom. The black mamba lives in the south and the east of Africa. The black mamba's skin is not actually black, it gets its name from the colour of the roof of its mouth. An adult black mamba can grow up to 14 feet (4.3 m) in length.
It is the second largest venomous snake in the world. The black mamba ( Dendroaspis polylepis) belongs to the Elapidae family of snakes.
