Black mambas actually come in a variety of colours, from pale grey to beige. Their name is derived from the colour of their mouths rather than their skin. Highly venomous and feared throughout their range, black mambas are famed for being the fastest and most dangerous snakes in Africa. The mamba's venom contains a powerful neurotoxin which works by preventing impulses from travelling along the nerves. The victim becomes paralysed and death occurs through respiratory failure.

More...