Editing Mamba (section)

==Behaviour==
The three green species of mambas are [[arboreal]], whereas the [[black mamba]] is largely terrestrial. All four species are active [[diurnal animal|diurnal]] hunters, preying on [[bird]]s, [[lizard]]s, and small [[mammal]]s. At nightfall some species, especially the terrestrial black mamba, shelter in a lair. A mamba may retain the same lair for years. Resembling a [[cobra]], the [[threat display]] of a mamba includes rearing, opening the mouth and hissing. The black mamba's mouth is black within, which renders the threat more conspicuous. A rearing mamba has a narrower yet longer hood and tends to lean well forward, instead of standing erect as a cobra does.

Stories of black mambas that chase and attack humans are common, but they generally avoid contact with humans.<ref name=VSOTW>{{cite book|last=O'Shea|first=Mark|title=VENOMOUS SNAKES OF THE WORLD|year=2005|publisher=US and Canada: Princeton University Press; Europe: New Holland (UK) Ltd|location= multiple places|isbn=978-0-691-15023-9|pages=78–79|quote=...in common with other snakes they prefer to avoid contact;...Of the three species of green mambas...;...from 1957 to 1963...including all seven black mamba bites - a 100 per cent fatality rate}}</ref> The black mamba (''Dendroaspis polylepis'') is a highly venomous snake native to parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Black mambas are fast-moving, nervous snakes that strike when threatened. According to findings by Branch (2016), their venom has neurotoxins and cardiotoxins that rapidly induce symptoms of dizziness, extreme fatigue, vision problems, foaming at the mouth, paralysis, convulsions, and eventual death from respiratory or cardiac failure if untreated. Although black mamba venom is highly toxic, antivenom is available and can treat [[envenomation]] promptly.

Most apparent cases of pursuit are likely examples of witnesses mistaking the snake's attempt to retreat to its lair when a human happens to be in the way.<ref name="new">{{cite book|title= The new encyclopedia of Reptiles (Serpent)|year=2002|publisher=Time Book Ltd}}</ref> The black mamba usually uses its speed to escape from threats, and humans are their main predators, rather than prey.<ref name="NG" />