Black Mamba

1. Black Mamba Dylan, Zach, Mikenzie, Rebecca

2. Reproduce • Black mambas breed starting in the spring and early summer Males will locate the right female by following a scent trail. When the male finds his mate he will thoroughly inspect her by flicking his tongue across her entire body. Males are equipped with a dual set of penises. When breeding takes place, two mambas twist their bodies together and begin mating which can last up to 2 whole days. Females wait approximately 55 days before laying between 10 and 25 eggs, that will hatch in 80-90 days.

3. Resources • http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_Black_Mambas_reproduce • http://www.steppestravel.co.uk/blog/2010/May/Black+Mamba+Holiday+Highlight/

4. Respond to the environment When black mamba’s feel threatened they open there mouths and are extremely aggressive. Black mambas are shy and when confronted they seek to escape if they can. However, when cornered, these snakes will raise their heads, sometimes with a third of their body off the ground, spread their cobra-like neck-flap, open their black mouths and hiss. If an attacked, the mamba will strike not once, but repeatedly, injecting large amounts of potent venom with each strike.

5. Maintain a stable environment Like all reptiles, the black mamba snake is cold blooded and relies on outside heat to maintain its body temperature. Therefore, it frequently lays in the sun during the day, either on a low branch or a rock, however, during the summer, the snake may be forced to take cover in its burrow if it becomes too hot.

6. Resources • http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/black-mamba/ • http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/venanimals/ven_snakesblkmamba.html

7. Made of cells • Black mamba cells are eukaryotic cells, or cells with a membrane-bound nucleus. Unlike prokaryotic cells, DNA in black mamba cells is housed within the nucleus. In addition to having a nucleus, black mamba cells also contain other membrane-bound organelles, or tiny cellular structures, that carry out specific functions necessary for normal cellular operation. Organelles have a wide range of responsibilities that include everything from producing hormones and enzymes to providing energy for animal cells.

8. Traits from parents • There traits are • Scales • Color • Species

9. Bibliography • http://biology.about.com/od/cellbiology/ss/animal_cells.htm • http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/black-mamba/ • http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_trait_for_a_black_mamba • http://www.theanimalfiles.com/reptiles/snakes/mamba_black.html

10. Grow and Develop • A black mamba can get up to 8.2 to 10 ft in length and sometimes growing to lengths of 14.6 ft. It is capable of moving 4.32 to 5.4 meters per. Black Mambas breed only once a year. Breeding season is in Spring which is around the month of September. Eggs develop for around 60 days inside the female before hatching. They can lay 15 to 25 eggs. The young ones are about 50 cm in length at birth. They hunt and feed themselves right from day one. They are also venomous at birth. Black mambas can live up 5 to 11 years. A snake sheds its skin as it grows. So the faster it grows the more it will shed.

11. Obtain and use energy and nutrients • A black mamba eats small mammals, birds, rodents, like rats, bats, and small chickens. There is a small opening at the end of there tail that opens up when it needs to go to the bathroom. Their pee and poop come out at the same time like a bird.

12. Bibliography • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_mamba http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_the_Black_Mamba_Eat animalsgaloreandmore.weebly.com blueplanetbiomes.org