It is also commonly known as the black-mouthed mamba, due to the intense black color of the inside of its mouth. It is this characteristic that gives it its name and not the color of its scales, as is erroneously thought, since the color of this snake can range from olive green to gunmetal grey, but never black.

It is the longest venomous snake in Africa, reaching up to 4 meters in length, and the fastest in the world, capable of moving at about 20 km/h. The Black Mamba is fast, nervous, lethally venomous, and when threatened, highly aggressive and unpredictable. This species has been accused of numerous human deaths, reasons for which it is considered the deadliest snake on the planet.