Fastest Snake Speed

Snakes are a legless reptile that can either be harmless or venomous, causing many people to be afraid of them or to try and harm them when they come across one in the wild. Snakes of varying sizes and speeds are found all over the world, and the world's fastest snake is the black mamba, which is native to Africa.

  1. Speed

    • The black mamba can reach speeds of between 10 miles per hour and 12 miles per hour. Stories told by locals depict the black mamba catching up to galloping horses and chasing humans, but these stories are just folklore. The black mamba cannot actually move that fast.

    Movement

    • The black mamba will travel at top speed with its head up to 4 feet off of the ground, while its body stays on the ground, moving in an S-shape to propel itself forward at top speed. But usually the black mamba spends its time slowly moving around in tree tops.

    Danger

    • A black mamba's venom, not its speed, is what makes it a dangerous snake. The black mamba is considered one of the most venomous snakes in the world, and one bite from a black mamba is enough to kill an adult male human in only a few hours. However, antivenin is available for black mamba bites if the hospital near the bite location carries it. In the wild, the black mamba's venom is used to paralyze prey such as rodents and birds.

    United States

    • The fastest snake in the United States is the eastern coachwhip, which is a harmless and nonvenomous snake. It can travel at a speed of up to 10 miles per hour. The eastern coachwhip is uncommon and very slender, allowing it to travel quickly to catch prey or escape predators.