- Where to see one
- 4 U.S. zoos in our directory hold black mamba, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the black mamba
The black mamba is a highly venomous snake of sub-Saharan Africa and the second-longest venomous snake after the king cobra. Adults generally exceed 2 m and commonly reach 3 m. It lives in savannah, woodland, rocky slopes and some dense forest, moving both on the ground and in trees. Diurnal, it preys on birds and small mammals. Despite its name the snake is grey to dark brown; the name refers to the inky-black inside of its mouth, shown during threat displays. Over suitable surfaces it can reach speeds up to 16 km/h for short distances. It attacks humans only if threatened or cornered.
Black Mamba facts
- The name comes from the dark inside of its mouth; the skin is grey to dark brown.
- Juveniles are paler than adults and darken as they age.
- Specimens of 4.3 to 4.5 m have been reported.
- The word mamba comes from the Zulu word imamba.
Where to see black mamba in the U.S.
4 zoos across 3 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 3 zoos holding black mamba by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
1 more zoo holds black mamba but has no coordinates on file yet, so it isn't ranked here. It's in the full list below.
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
