The black mamba is the longest venomous snake in Africa, averaging around 2.5 meters (8.2 ft), and sometimes growing up to 4.3 meters (14 ft).
The actual colour of the skin varies, from dull yellowish-green to a gun-metal gray. It is the fastest snake in the world, capable of moving at 4.5 to 5.4 metres per second (16–20 km/h, 10–12 mph).
The name "black mamba" is given to the snake not because of its body colour but because of its ink-black mouth. It displays this physical attribute when threatened.
Black mambas weigh on average about 1.6 kilograms (3.5 lb). The black mamba is the second longest venomous snake in the world, which is only exceeded in length by the king cobra. The snake also has an average life span of 11 years in the wild.
