Has anyone survived a black mamba?

Danie Pienaar, who was at various times from at least 2009 to 2017 head of South African National Parks Scientific Services and acting managing executive, survived the bite of a black mamba without antivenom in 1998.

A human can collapse within 45 minutes of a Black Mamba bite. Without treatment it can take 7 to 15 hours for a Black Mamba bite to kill you. The sooner a person is treated after the bite, the better his chances of survival. A Black Mamba antidote is administered where necessary, but some people may be allergic.

Without medical treatment, mamba bites are frequently fatal. First-aid treatment includes lymphatic retardation with the pressure immobilization technique.

Though it's rare for a black mamba to attack a human unprovoked, they are nevertheless reputed to be one of the most dangerous snakes for a person to encounter. In Africa, they are both feared and respected, and a legendary lore surrounds the larger-than-life reputation of the snake.

The black mamba's venom is so dangerous and can act upon the human body so quickly, that it has a 100% mortality rate if it is not treated with a full course of antivenom.

Over distance they slow down to 7 MPH (12 KPH). However, the average human run speed over distance is 6 MPH (10 KPH). Thus, you cant outrun a Black Mamba. Still, Black Mambas are extremely shy and will do everything they can to avoid people.

The Black Mamba is, in fact, not an aggressive snake and is very quick to avoid people if given the chance and bites from this snake are quite rare, even more so if compared with bites from snakes like the Mozambique Spitting Cobra and Puff Adder.

Danie Pienaar, who was at various times from at least 2009 to 2017 head of South African National Parks Scientific Services and acting managing executive, survived the bite of a black mamba without antivenom in 1998.

Black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)

This snake, found in sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the most feared of all. Unlike the relatively docile inland taipan, the black mamba is known to be particularly aggressive. Although it does not seek out humans, when cornered or threatened it will rear up and strike repeatedly.

Behavior. Black mambas are shy and will almost always seek to escape when confronted. However, when cornered, these snakes will raise their heads, sometimes with a third of their body off the ground, spread their cobra-like neck-flap, open their black mouths, and hiss.

The black mamba gives off a secretion which smells a lot like curry. So if you arrive home and there is a strong smell of curry, which isn't on the dinner menu, then there is a good chance that a black mamba has been, or could still be, in the area.

Black mambas are extremely dangerous reptiles – in fact, many consider the species to be one of the world's deadliest snakes. They are found in southern and eastern Africa, and are shy, evasive creatures. They won't seek out human interaction. But if cornered or confronted, they will strike.

Mongooses have mutated cells that block the mambas' neurotoxins from entering their bloodstream. This makes them capable of surviving the venomous snake's deadly bite. (See how a mongoose fends off a lion.)

The smart answer is that snakes can't run at all, but taking the question in the spirit it was intended, no. The world's fastest snake can't travel faster than a human. The black mamba, the current record-holder for fastest snake, can only travel 12 mph. The average human can run at least 15 mph.

Key Points: The black mamba is supposedly the most dangerous snake, while the inland taipan is likely the snake with the deadliest venom.

What is the deadliest snake? The saw-scaled viper, Echis carinatus, is considered the deadliest snake in the world, according to Britannica. This type of snake is said to be responsible for "more human deaths than all other snake species combined."

Black mambas are territorial, so don't go looking for a fight. If you see or hear one, leave it alone. Do not go near the snake, and if it tries to escape, let it. If it feels cornered, you'll face its wrath.

At first you might feel a slight sting as the fangs enter. Then, a tingling will spread throughout your limbs. But within minutes your central nervous system will start shutting down, culminating in convulsions, paralysis, and a suffocating death.

Lucky for Bolt, living in Jamaica, he may not run the risk of an embarrassing defeat by a wild rabbit. Animals that Usain Bolt can outrun include the Black Mamba, a wild turkey, squirrel, domestic pig, chicken and a rat which ran speeds of between 20mph and 8mph.

The snake has been recorded at a speed of 11 km/h (6.8 mph), for a distance of 43 m (141 ft). In comparison, the average female human runs 6.5 mph, while the average male human jogs at 8.3 mph. Both men and women can run much faster for a short distance. A horse gallops at 25 to 30 mph.

Black mambas are majestic animals that are incredibly strong and intelligent. They are alert snakes with a keen sense of sight. Also, they have a fast metabolism to digest prey quickly. During the day, they actively hunt on the ground and in trees.

Even though most bites are fatal, it is responsible for only a small number of deaths annually, and unprovoked attacks on humans have not been proved. In the wild, black mambas will typically live at least 11 years, while those in captivity have life spans of more than 20 years.

The fangs of the black mamba are front fixed, and they can be folded up into the roof of the mouth while they aren't in use. These snakes have also evolved a hood-like structure around its neck that can flare out when threatened, this behavior makes the snake appear much larger to its enemies.

A black mamba could absolutely kill a lion. While neither the black nor either species of green mamba possess the most potent venom of their peers (that honour instead goes to their fellow elapid, the inland taipan), they have a well earned reputation as the world's most feared snakes.

Though some are dry bites, which aren't as dangerous and will likely cause some swelling, others are venomous bites, which, if not treated carefully and quickly, can result in death. Always seek immediate medical attention if you've been bitten by a snake, as it could be a matter of life and death.

Cairns Hospital toxicologist Dr Mark Little said Mr Jones was lucky to survive the snake bite, as taipan venom could cause bleeding, muscle break down, as well as paralysis. 'Tom potentially had a number of life-threatening complications due to his taipan bite,' he said.