Adaptation
The black mamba has many interesting adaptations that have
allowed it to survive in the African wild for so long.
They have a specialized organ known as the vomeronasal
Organ, or the Jacobson’s Organ which is involved in the snake’s
chemical communication and in hunting prey. The snake collects
stimuli from the environment, such as air particles and other
molecules with its forked tongue, and transports them back to
vomeronasal ducts. The ducts open into grooves in the mouth
which the tips of the tongue graze over, placing molecules from
the environment into the vomeronasal organ ducts. The organ
then processes the stimuli and helps the snake to detect what it
is in the environment and where potential prey is.
Photo Courtesy of widdowquinn,http://www.flickr.com/photos/widdowquinn/3484336004/
The
Jacobson’s organ (learn more
here) provides the snake with an advantage over its
prey by enhancing its taste/smell sense. The black mamba is
also a type of snake known as a proteroglyph. This means that
the fangs of the black mamba are front fixed, and they can’t be
folded up into the roof of the mouth while they aren’t in use.
This also means that the fangs have to be kept relatively short so
that they don’t puncture the lower jaw when the mouth is closed.
Photo
Courtesy of Turkinator,http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianturk/293296883/in/photostream/
The Black Mamba, along with many other elapids, has evolved a
hood like structure around its neck that can flare out when
threatened. The hood functions to make the mamba appear larger
and scare off any potential threats. Learn more about another
snake that has evolved a scare tactic
here.
One of the more amazing adaptations that the Black
Mamba, and all snakes for that matter, have evolved is the
ability to move without legs!
They are the only taxonomic group of the chordates to use this
type of locomotion. The black mamba moves its body in a
sideways motion, pushing off of the substrate when its body is
turning. These sideways movements propel the animal throughout
their environment quite successfully. Another evolutionary
trait that black mambas possess that has recently come to light
that helps them move are their scales. A study done at the
University of Georgia Tech has shown that the scales on snakes
have evolved to act like hooks to create more friction to help
drive the snake forward (to read more about this study click
here). While they conducted the study, they wrapped a test
snake in a cloth coat, they had a significantly tougher time in
moving forward. This is strong evidence for the friction that
the scales create. The black mamba also has evolved an amniotic
egg, which means that it has an amnion membrane surrounding the
embryo inside the leathery skin of the egg. The amnion cushions
the embryo, while also preventing desiccation.
One of the most important adaptations for the black mamba, however, is its venom. It is extremely potent, and you can learn more about it on the venom page.
Continue to Nutrition