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Spitting Cobra
A "spitting" cobra is any of several species of cobra that can intentionally, defensively shoot their snake venom, venom directly from their fangs. This substance has two functions, with the first being as venom that can be absorbed via the victim’s eyes, mouth, or nose (or any mucous membrane or existing wound), and secondly as a toxungen, which can be sprayed on the target surface. Their ability to target and shoot venom is utilised in several different ways, self-defense being the most common instance. Studies have shown that the targets (at which the cobras shoot) are far from random; rather, spitting cobras consciously take aim, directing their spray to the eyes and face of an aggressor with 90% accuracy. In a remarkable case of convergent evolution, the individual cobra species evolved the ability to spit venom independently. Background Spitting cobras belong to the Elapidae, which comprises snakes including cobras, mambas, coral snakes, kraits, taipans, death adders ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mozambique Spitting Cobra
The Mozambique spitting cobra (''Naja mossambica'') is a highly venomous species of spitting cobra in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Africa, and it is found in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Taxonomy German naturalist Wilhelm Peters described ''Naja mossambica'' as a species new to science in 1854. www.reptile-database.org. Description In colour, ''Naja mossambica'' is slate to blue, olive or tawny black above, with some or all scales having black edging. Below, it is salmon pink to purple yellowish, with black bars across the neck and ventrals speckled or edged with brown or black; young specimens sometimes have pink or yellow bars on the throat. The average length of adults is between 90 cm and 105 cm (3–3½ feet), but the largest specimen measured was a male 154 cm (5 feet) long in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Distribution ''Naja mossambica'' is the most common cob ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Indochinese Spitting Cobra
The Siamese spitting cobra (''Naja siamensis'') (, pronounced: nguu hao) also called the Indochinese spitting cobra, Thai spitting cobra and black and white spitting cobra is a species of spitting cobra found in Southeast Asia. Description This is a medium-sized elapid, with a more slender build compared to most other cobras within the genus ''Naja''. The body colour of this species is variable from grey to brown to black, with white spots or stripes. The white patterning can be so prolific that it covers the majority of the snake. The highly distinctive black and white colour phase is common in central Thailand, specimens from western Thailand are mostly black, whereas individuals from elsewhere are usually brown. The hood mark can be spectacle-shaped, irregular or missing altogether, especially in adults. Adults average between in length, and can potentially reach lengths of , although this is considered rare. Body mass for adults can be tends to be around 1,600 grams. This s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Samar Cobra
The Samar cobra (''Naja samarensis'') also called Peters' cobra, southern Philippine cobra or Visayan cobra, is a highly venomous species of spitting cobra native to the Visayas and Mindanao island groups of the Philippines. Description The Samar cobra is a species of spitting cobra that can grow up to 1.4 meters in length. Their coloring varies from a black and yellow to green. Scalation There are 17-25 scale rows around the hood, 17-19 ahead of mid-body; 161-184 ventrals, 41-52 subcaudals, basal pairs sometimes undivided. Reproduction The Samar cobra, or southeastern Philippines cobra, is oviparous, laying clutches of up to eight eggs. Distribution and habitat The Samar cobra is endemic to the southern Philippines. Specifically, the Visayas and Mindanao Mindanao ( ) is the List of islands of the Philippines, second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and List of islands by population, seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Philippine Cobra
The Philippine cobra (''Naja philippinensis'') also called Philippine spitting cobra or northern Philippine cobra, is a stocky, highly venomous species of spitting cobra native to the northern regions of the Philippines. The Philippine cobra is called in Tagalog, in Ilocano. Taxonomy ''Naja philippinensis'' was described by American herpetologist Edward Harrison Taylor in 1922. The generic name ''naja'' is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word ' () meaning "cobra". The specific epithet ''philippinensis'' is Latin and literally means "from the Philippine Islands". Description The Philippine cobra is a stocky snake of medium length with long cervical ribs capable of expanding, so when threatened, a hood can be formed. The average length of this species is . The species can grow to lengths of However, subpopulations of the species, particularly specimens from Mindoro Island, are said to attain lengths of , but these are unconfirmed claims. If true, however, 2 m would be very rare ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mandalay Spitting Cobra
The Mandalay spitting cobra (''Naja mandalayensis''), also called the Burmese spitting cobra or Mandalay cobra, is a species of spitting cobra endemic to the Dry Zone in central Myanmar. Etymology ''Naja mandalayensis'' was first described by herpetologists Wolfgang Wüster and Joseph Bruno Slowinski in 2000. The generic name ''naja'' is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word () meaning "cobra". The specific epithet ''mandalayensis'' is Latin and refers to the city of Mandalay, which is a major city within the range of Naja mandalayensis. Description This species of cobra is medium in length, and heavy bodied. The average length of an adult ranges from ; they can grow to . The head is elliptical, depressed, slightly distinct from the neck with a short, rounded snout and large nostrils. The body is compressed dorsoventrally and subcylindrical posteriorly. Its scales are smooth and strongly oblique. The eyes are moderate in size with round pupils. The body of this species is yellowi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Andaman Cobra
The Andaman cobra or Andaman spitting cobra (''Naja sagittifera'') is a species of cobra endemic to the Andaman Islands of India. The name of this cobra comes from the Islands itself. The species has a very potent venom, and is capable of “spitting”, although this defensive behavior is very rare and the aim is poor and not as efficient as “true spitting cobras”. Taxonomy ''Naja sagittifera'' is classified under the genus ''Naja'' of the family Elapidae. It was first described by Frank Wall, a British physician and herpetologist in 1913. The generic name ''Naja'' is a Latinization of the Sanskrit word ' (), meaning "cobra”. The specific epithet ''sagittifera'' is Latin and means “arrow-bearing” or “carrying arrows”. The Caspian cobra (''Naja oxiana'') and Monocled cobra (''Naja kaouthia'') have been demonstrated to be sister clades to ''Naja sagittifera''. Noticeably, despite population separation caused by the Hindu Kush mountains, ''N. oxiana'' demonstrates a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Monocled Cobra
The monocled cobra (''Naja kaouthia''), also called monocellate cobra and Indian spitting cobra, is a venomous cobra species widespread across South and Southeast Asia. It is characterized by a distinctive circular or "monocle"-shaped marking on the hood, though the pattern can be highly variable or even absent in some individuals. It occupies a wide range of habitats, including forests, agricultural land, and areas near human settlements. It is responsible for a significant proportion of snakebite incidents and fatalities in its range, due to its potent neurotoxic venom and frequent proximity to human settlements. Some populations of the monocled cobra have the ability to spit venom with notable accuracy, though not all individuals exhibit this behavior. Taxonomy The scientific name ''Naja kaouthia'' was proposed by René Lesson in 1831, when he described the monocled cobra as a beautiful snake that is distinct from the spectacled cobra, with 188 ventral scales and 53 pairs of c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chinese Cobra
The Chinese cobra (''Naja atra''), also called the Taiwan cobra, is a species of cobra in the family Elapidae, found mostly in southern China and a couple of neighboring nations and islands. It is one of the most prevalent venomous snakes in China, which has caused many snakebite incidents to humans. Etymology and names ''Naja atra'' was first described by Danish physician, zoologist, and botanist Theodore Edward Cantor in 1842. The generic name ''naja'' is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word () meaning "cobra". The specific epithet ''atra'' comes from the Latin term ''ater'', which means "dark", "black", or "gloomy". In Mandarin Chinese, the snake is known as ''Zhōnghuá yǎnjìngshé'' ( simplified: 中华眼镜蛇, traditional: 中華眼鏡蛇, lit. "Chinese spectacled snake", i.e. Chinese cobra), ''Zhōushān yǎnjìngshé'' (舟山眼鏡蛇, lit. "Zhoushan spectacled snake", i.e. Zhoushan cobra) or, in Cantonese, ''faahnchaántàuh'' (飯鏟頭, lit. "rice paddle hea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rinkhals
The rinkhals (; ''Hemachatus haemachatus''), also known as the ringhals or ring-necked spitting cobra, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is found in parts of southern Africa. It is not a true cobra in that it does not belong to the genus ''Naja'', but instead belongs to the monotypic genus ''Hemachatus''. While rinkhals bear a great resemblance to true cobras, they also possess some remarkable differences from these, resulting in their placement outside the genus ''Naja''. In 2023, the Zimbabwe population was described as a new species, ''H. nyangensis''. Description Colouration of the rinkhals varies throughout its distribution area, but a characteristic of the species is that the belly is dark with one or two light-coloured crossbands on the throat. Its usual total length (tail included) is . Some individuals may have a mostly black body, while others are striped. The dorsal scales are distinct from those of ''Naja'' cobras in that they are k ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Red Spitting Cobra
The red spitting cobra (''Naja pallida'') is a species of spitting cobra native to Africa. Description This medium-sized cobra attains lengths between , but may grow to a maximum length of around in very rare cases. It is often thought of as an attractive species; it is usually bright salmon-red contrasted with a broad black throat band and subocular teardrop markings. However, the color of this species does have variation, which usually depends on where in Africa a particular specimen is found. For example, specimens from southern Kenya and northern Tanzania have an orange-red colour, with a broad, dark blue or black throat band. Some specimens may have two or three throat bands, but this is uncommon for specimens from East Africa. The ventral side is also reddish in colour, sometimes the throat area may be a creamy white. Specimens from other areas can be yellow, pinkish, pink-grey, pale red or steel grey. Most specimens will have a throat band, but it will fade or even somet ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nubian Spitting Cobra
The Nubian spitting cobra or Egyptian spitting cobra (''Naja nubiae'') is a species of spitting cobra native to Africa. Description A relatively small spitting cobra. Maximum recorded length 148 cm. In 2024,a specimen hunted from Luxor Egypt reached 180 cm. Colour and pattern: Brownish-grey overall, scale bases and skin between scales black. Belly slightly lighter. Dark band across nape, dark ring across throat and neck, usually an additional dark band on belly, bands may fade with age. Scalation: 207–226 ventrals, 58–72 subcaudals, 23–29 scale rows around neck, 23–27 scale rows at midbody, 1–2 preoculars, 6–8 supralabials.in 2024 aspecimen was hunted from Luxor Egypt reaches 180 cm Distribution A scattered distribution in north-eastern Africa: Egypt (Nile Valley), Sudan (Nile Valley, Darfur), western Eritrea, Chad (Ennedi Plateau) and Niger (Aïr Mountains). Taxonomy It was previously confused with the red spitting cobra The red spitting cobra (''Naja pallida ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
