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Dendroaspis polylepis
The dreaded black mamba. I love this snake. It's a beautiful and powerful animal that commands fear and respect. The black mamba is of course, extremely deadly. They are both terrestrial and arboreal and are possibly the fastest snake on ideal surfaces, reaching up to 7mph. Which for something without limbs is pretty impressive. Despite the color it actually gets it name from its ink black mouth that it will open as a threat display. It will also stretch a small hood and hiss. If you don't heed this warning well, you're dead. Black mambas can strike at a considerable range and are massive. Commonly reaching 6-10 feet, 14 foot specimens aren't unheard of. Despite the danger and reputation of being aggressive, a black mamba is more likely to flee you than anything. Still, you should be respectful of this beautiful creature. They are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. This species endangers you.
Black mambas are native to Africa.
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