mozambique spitting cobra habitat

Its venom is about as toxic as the American Mojave rattlesnake, considered the world's most venomous rattlesnake. Your email address will not be published. This usually occurs around April or May. This is the genus of snake known as Cobras or ‘True Cobras’ which contains species such as the Indian Cobra. If the snake spits venom in your eyes it can cause impaired vision and even blindness. Unlike the Egyptian Cobra, this species prefers localities near water, to which it will readily take when disturbed. The venom yield of this snake ranges from 80 to 200mg with the average being around 140mg. They also have bands of black scales that run horizontally across their throat. Like the majority of elapid snakes, the Mozambique Spitting Cobras venom consists primarily of cytotoxins. Elapids usually have short fangs that are permanently erect and positioned in the front of their mouth. When confronted at close quarters, it can rear up as much as two-thirds of its length and spread its long narrow hood, and will readily "spit" in defense, usually from a reared-up position. When the hatchlings emerge from the egg they measure around 23-25cm in length. 90 to 105 cm; largest recorded specimen measures 154 cm, Upper surface is slate to blue to olive or tawny black; underside is salmon pink to purple yellowish with black bars across the neck, Natal, Durban, Mpumalanga Province Lowveld region, south-eastern Tanzania, Pemba Island, southern Angola, northern Namibia, Amphibians, other snakes, birds, eggs, small mammals, occasionally insects, Venom consists of neurotoxin and cytotoxin. © 2020 Reptile Range. Its bite causes severe local tissue destruction (similar to that of the puff adder). The Mozambique Spitting Cobra generally breeds in the Spring. In color the snake is slate to blue, olive or tawny black above, with some or all scales black-edging. As its name suggests, it … They can be found as far West as the Eastern parts of Namibia and Angola. The genus that the Mozambique Spitting Cobra belongs to is called Naja. Younger specimens are much more frequently encountered in the open at daytime. The Mozambique spitting cobra (Naja mossambica) is a highly venomous species of spitting cobra native to Africa. The venom can be propelled 2–3 metres (6½-10 feet), with great accuracy. Published on December 1st 2016 by staff under Snakes. Thanks to the development of anti-venom, fatalities from a Mozambique Spitting Cobra are rare. The area around the bite can start to blister and necrosis can present within a few hours of the bite. The diet of this snake consists largely of frogs, small mammals, birds and snakes, including the Puff Adder. [4], A polyvalent antivenom is currently being developed by the Universidad de Costa Rica's Instituto Clodomiro Picado. The Mozambique Spitting Cobra grows to lengths of around 3 to 4ft. The neck of the Mozambique Spitting Cobra is a Salmon color. Their venom also contains neurotoxins. Mozambique spitting cobra is a species of highly poisonous snake found in Africa. They are fond of water and are usually found close to a lake, stream or other bodies of water. The Mozambique Spitting Cobra occurs from southern KZN to Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo, North West, most of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, eastern and northern Botswana, northern Namibia and elsewhere further north. The Mozambique Spitting Cobra is more famous for spitting venom, but they can and will bite and inject venom if they are threatened. They can be found as far North as Tanzania with their range extending down into the Northern parts of South Africa. Like the rinkhals, it can spit its venom. German naturalist Wilhelm Peters described this species in 1854. The Mozambique Spitting Cobra belongs to the Elapid family of snakes. They are often considered one of the deadliest snakes in Africa. These snakes are also known to bite multiple times meaning even more venom can be injected. All rights reserved. The distribution includes Natal, as far south as Durban, Mpumalanga Province Lowveld region, south-eastern Tanzania and Pemba Island and west to southern Angola and northern Namibia. The Naja genus has undergone a number of changes in recent years and will likely be revised again soon as DNA analysis is carried out on more species. It was largely found at Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Mozambique Spitting Cobra is a venomous snake native to the Southern regions of Africa. The bite area will often swell, and this swelling can rapidly spread. The venom of this species contains postsynaptic neurotoxin and cytotoxin. The Mozambique Spitting Cobra has a varied diet and will consume a wide range of prey items. (Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa]). [3] This cobra has been reported to scavenge and eat carcasses in an advanced stage of decomposition. [3], It is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa. [3], This species is the most common cobra of the savanna regions of the tropical and subtropical Africa. [3] After mating, the eggs will develop in the female and after around 2 months she will lay anything from 10 to 22 eggs. Article was last reviewed on 7th June 2019. At the latest count, there are 29 species and a further 7 sub-species of snake classified as True Cobras. Juveniles have also been observed eating the occasional insect. The body of the snake is slate grey or olive brown in color. [5], This cobra's diet mainly consists of amphibians, other snakes, birds, eggs, small mammals, and occasionally even insects. Some distinctive features of the snake are the black edges to the scales that run along the snake’s body. It is the most common cobra found in the Savannah regions of Southern Africa. They can be found as far West as the Eastern parts of Namibia and Angola. There have been only a few fatalities resulting from bites of this species but survivors are mostly disfigured. They are mostly found in open woodlands, savannah grasslands and rocky hillsides. The species is considered as one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa. The Mozambique Spitting Cobra is the most commonly found Cobra in the Savannah regions of Southern Africa. Venom to the eyes can also cause impaired vision or blindness. They can also be found throughout most of Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe as well as parts of Zambia. They can be found as far North as Tanzania with their range extending down into the Northern parts of South Africa. The Mozambique spitting cobra (Naja mossambica) is a highly venomous species of spitting cobra native to Africa. This means that they are related to other Elapid species such as Death Adders, Copperheads, Mambas and Coral Snakes. One of the main differences between Elapids and other venomous snakes such as Vipers are their teeth. Below, 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. A Mozambique Spitting Cobra has been observed consuming a snake that was only 25% smaller than itself. It is also known to eat insects. It was largely found at Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. [7], Venomous Snakes of the world by Mark O'Shea, Page number 72, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mozambique_spitting_cobra&oldid=972927336, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 August 2020, at 14:07. Cytotoxic venom can cause extensive tissue damage and lead to necrosis if early treatment isnt administered. The cytotoxins in the venom can immediately cause severe localised pain following a bite. They are also known to consume dead carcasses, even if they have already started to decompose. They are an oviparous species, meaning that they lay eggs as opposed to giving live birth. They also have large venom glands that store a large quantity of venom. The Mozambique Spitting Cobra is the most commonly found Cobra in the Savannah regions of Southern Africa.

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