---
title: "American alligator vs black mamba — size, speed and bite force"
description: "American alligator and black mamba compared on mass, length, speed, bite force and lifespan — every measure side by side, with why the numbers cannot settle an encou"
url: https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/american-alligator-vs-black-mamba/
site: "At One Place"
---

# American alligator vs black mamba

**American alligator vs black mamba: American alligator leads on 3 of 3 measures**

Measured comparison — not a prediction

A broad-snouted crocodilian of the US Southeast, recovered from near-extinction to over a million animals. The fastest snake and Africa's longest venomous one; it is named for the black inside of its mouth, not its colour. On the measurements below, American alligator leads on more of them — but they do not all point the same way, and the ones that disagree are the interesting part.

## The measurements

|  | American alligator | black mamba |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mass | 70–500 kg | 1–3.1 kg |
| Length | 2.6–4.6 m | 2–4.3 m |
| Top speed | — | 11–20 km/h |
| Bite force | 1,000–2,980 psi | — |
| Lifespan | 35–70 yr | 10–20 yr |

## Where each one leads

- Mass: American alligator is 144× heavier.
- Length: American alligator is 1.4× longer.
- Lifespan: American alligator is 4.5× a longer life.

## What this does and does not tell you

These are measured averages with real ranges behind them, and every figure links to its own page. What they cannot do is settle an encounter. Outcomes between animals turn on circumstance — who initiates, whether either is hungry, defending young, injured or cornered, and what the terrain favours. Size and bite force are not decisive on their own, and most of these pairs never meet in the wild in any case, because their ranges do not overlap.

> Every figure here is an average with a substantial spread. Individual animals vary enormously — a large individual of the smaller species routinely exceeds a small individual of the larger one.

## Common questions

### Is a American alligator bigger than a black mamba?

American alligator is heavier — 70–500 kg against 1–3.1 kg.

### Who would win, a American alligator or a black mamba?

That is not something measurements can settle. The comparison above shows which animal leads on each measure, but an actual encounter depends on circumstance, motivation, health and terrain — and most pairs like this never meet in the wild.

## Related pages

- [How much does a American alligator weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/american-alligator/)
- [How much does a black mamba weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/black-mamba/)
- [African elephant vs American alligator](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/african-elephant-vs-american-alligator/)
- [African elephant vs black mamba](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/african-elephant-vs-black-mamba/)
- [American alligator vs lion](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/american-alligator-vs-lion/)
- [American alligator vs tiger](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/american-alligator-vs-tiger/)
- [American alligator vs leopard](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/american-alligator-vs-leopard/)
- [American alligator vs jaguar](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/american-alligator-vs-jaguar/)
- [American alligator vs cheetah](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/american-alligator-vs-cheetah/)
- [American alligator vs cougar](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/american-alligator-vs-cougar/)
- [American alligator vs snow leopard](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/american-alligator-vs-snow-leopard/)
- [American alligator vs domestic cat](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/american-alligator-vs-domestic-cat/)
- [American alligator vs grizzly bear](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/american-alligator-vs-grizzly-bear/)
- [American alligator vs polar bear](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/american-alligator-vs-polar-bear/)

## Sources

- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution (https://naturalhistory.si.edu/)
- Wikidata — Wikimedia Foundation (https://www.wikidata.org/) [CC0 1.0]
- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)