Black Mamba & Tortois Stock Footage 01

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The African spurred tortoise is native to the Sahara desert, which uses its powerful claws to excavate large burrows in the ground to avoid the hottest part of the day. These tunnel systems extend up to 10 feet underground and offer refuge for other reptiles, including black mambas. Like many North American tortoise species which share their burrows with rattlesnakes, the black mamba shows no aggressive behavior toward the spurred tortoise. In fact, the radiating heat of its armor provides an additional bonus by adding in the mamba’s digestion.
Black mambas are curious creatures, investigating anything in its range and this particular tortoise seems to exert an irresistible attraction to the snake. It’s been unknown if the tortoise is immune to the black mambas venom, yet its sharp claws could cause serious injuries to the serpent as well. The mamba eventually satisfied its curiosity and stopped harassing the tortoise. Both remained peaceful underground, avoiding the heat outside the cooling burrow.
This stock footage was recorded by Heiko Kiera aka Ojatro in 2010.