The deadly reptile sank its fangs into the 17-year-old Melody Chiputura's thigh, before anyone in the Zimbabwe school classroom noticed it had even slithered into the room. Melody felt a sting in her leg before telling screaming out to the teacher in fear she had been bitten.
A schoolgirl in Africa reportedly died within 30 minutes of being bitten by one of the world's most venomous snakes. Melody Chiputura, 17, was bitten by a black mamba in her Rushinga High School classroom in Zimbabwe after the snake lunged at her thigh, The Herald-Zimbabwe reported.
Melody Chiputura dies from black mamba snake attack in Zimbabwe.
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.
Gideon Vorster, from Tzaneen, was helping to remove the snake which was shedding its skin — a process that makes them violent and territorial — and it bit him twice on his hand.
The Black Mamba is the second-longest venomous snake after the King Cobra. They are known for their large size, quickness, and extremely potent venom, making them one of the deadliest snakes in the world. The inside of this snake's mouth is black, hence its name – Black Mamba.
The largest black mamba ever recorded was 14 feet, 9 inches in total. The king cobra is the world's largest venomous snake; however, the black mamba is its closest rival in terms of size. When it comes to the length of this snake, its tail accounts for about two-thirds of its total length.
Before we get to the fun bit, we should note that black mambas are from Africa and inland taipans are from Australia. This means under natural circumstances, the two species would never meet.
The black mamba is the world's longest venomous snake after the king cobra. Humans can outrun any kind of snake. Although black mambas are considered the fastest snakes in the world at 10-12mph humans can run up to 23mph.
Stories of black mambas that chase and attack humans are common, but in fact the snakes generally avoid contact with humans. Most apparent cases of pursuit probably are examples of where witnesses have mistaken the snake's attempt to retreat to its lair when a human happens to be in the way.
Some common examples include marigolds, lemongrass, and wormwood. Foxes and raccoons are common predators of snakes. Guinea hens, turkeys, pigs, and cats will also help keep snakes away. If foxes are indigenous to your area, fox urine is a very good natural repellent for snakes when spread around your property.
Black mambas live in the savannas and rocky hills of southern and eastern Africa. They are Africa's longest venomous snake, reaching up to 14 feet in length, although 8.2 feet is more the average. They are also among the fastest snakes in the world, slithering at speeds of up to 12.5 miles per hour.
In a shocking case, a teenage schoolgirl in Zimbabwe died after the bite of a black mamba, which is considered to be one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa.
The inland or western taipan, Oxyuranus microlepidotus, is the most venomous snake in the world, according to Britannica. Native to Australia, this snake has the deadliest venom based on median lethal dose, or LD50, tests on mice.
After the king cobra, the black mamba is the longest venomous snake in the world. It is also the fastest-moving snake in the world, reaching up to 23km/h.
The Black Mamba
Its venom is so potent that just one bite can kill a human within minutes. However, the Black Mamba is not particularly fast despite its reputation. Humans can easily outrun it. The average Black Mamba strike only covers a distance of about six feet, which a human can easily hide in a few strides.
Like most diurnal snakes in South Africa, black mambas are considered to have good vision. They are able to detect motion and may strike if they pick up any sudden movement perceived as a threat. Their keen eyesight also helps them hunt for the small mammals that typically make up their diet.
Twenty minutes after being bitten you may be lose the ability to talk. After one hour you're probably comatose, and by six hours, without an antidote, you are dead. A person will experience "pain, paralysis and then death within six hours," says Damaris Rotich, the curator for the snake park in Nairobi.
Introducing the most venomous snake in the world and epic predator of the Australian outback! The inland taipan is otherwise known as the fierce snake or small scaled snake.
However according to statistics released by the National Coronial Information Service, eastern browns are responsible for the majority of snake bite deaths. Up to 65 per cent of fatalities between 2000 and 2016 were attributed to the venomous species, which is found across most of eastern Australia.
The king cobra is the winner.
This snake's neurotoxin is fast acting and incredibly potent. The cobra is also much faster than the python, with a top speed of 12 mph.
Their main threats are from people, who fear the snakes and their aggressive reputation. While black mambas are often killed out of fear by the people who live near them, their main predators are mongooses, honey badgers, birds such as brown snake eagles, secretary birds, and black-headed herons.
Since mambas are also able to swim, they can move smoothly and easily in the water, too. Though green mambas spend more time up in trees, black mambas do occasionally climb trees and have been known to drop on their predators if they feel threatened.
King cobras are heavier than black mambas, weighing about twice as much on average when full grown. Black mambas are smaller than king cobras by several feet. The king cobra lives in India and Southeastern Asia, while the black mamba makes its home in sub-Saharan Africa.