Black Spitting Cobra

Spitting cobra

Spitting cobra refers to any one of several species of cobras that have the ability to spit or eject venom from their mouth when defending themselves against predators. The spit venom is harmless to intact skin. However, it can cause permanent blindness if introduced to the eye and left untreated (causing chemosis and corneal swelling).

Despite their name, these snakes do not actually spit their venom. They spray the venom, using muscular contractions upon the venom glands. These muscles squeeze the glands and force the venom out through forward facing holes at the tips of the fangs. As the venom leaves the fang tip, a large gust of air is expelled from the lung which aerosolizes the venom and propels it forward. When cornered, some species can "spit" their venom a distance as great as two meters. While spitting is typically their primary form of defense, all spitting cobras are capable of delivering venom through a bite as well. Most species' venom exhibit significant hemotoxic effects, along with more typical neurotoxic effects of other cobra species.

Species of the Black spitting cobras

This species is recognized in tree subspecies:

1. Black-necked Spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis nigricollis)
   
2. Black Spitting Cobra (Naja nigricollis woodi)
   
3. Western Barred Spitting Cobra (Naja nigricollis nigricincta)
   

Colour

In colour the snake is slate to olive grey, olive or tawny brown above, with some or all scales black-edging. Below, salmon pink to 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.

Length

Naja nigricollis nigricollis; This is the largest species and can measure a lenght of 120 -220 cm but specimens are known to grow up to 280 cm.

Naja nigricollis woodi; This species has a average length of 120 – 150 cm with a max. of 200 cm. Which makes this subspecies a medium size spitting cobra.

Naja nigricollis nigricinta; Is the smallest subspecies of these cobras with a average length of 100 – 120 cm with a max of 150 cm.

Distribution

Naja nigricollis nigricollis;
Eastern Africa , Western and eastern Kenya ,wide spread in Uganda , South-western Africa , Tanzenia , Rwanda , Burundi , Senegal and Namibia
.

Naja nigricollis woodi;
South Africa Cape province, Western and central Namibia .

Naja nigricollis nigricincta;
Central and Northern Namibia probably in South Angola .

Habitat

Naja nigricollis nigricollis;
This subspecies lives in savanna regions and semi-dessert. They can be found on heights up to 1800 m. They also live in coastal scrubs and dry grassland. They hide in termite mountains and abundant rodent holes, but also hollow trees and trunks are favorit hiding place. This subspecies is nocturnal. Its often found in human surrounding hunting for pest animals like rats and mice. This species is also a good climber and is often found in trees.

Naja nigricollis woodi;
This species can be found in rocky area and mountains they are often found nearby permanent water holes. They hide in rock outcrops and is pretty rare and not often seen.

Naja nigricollis nigricincta;
This species is also nocturnal and can be found in semi dessert and dry savanna regions. In the morning can they be found basking nearby there hiding places that are mostly termite mounts and abundant rodent holes.

Toxicology

Common Name	Family:	Genus:	Species:	Snake bite Links	Natural Habitat of the Spitting Cobra - Black (N. nigricollis)
Black Spitting Cobra	Elapidae	Naja	nigricollis	toxinology.com, Eye First aid	EMBL, Snakes of SA, Cape Nature

Venom type	Time Critical	Danger level	Main symptoms	Hospital Equipment
Cytotoxic & Neurotoxic	Urgent	Potentially lethal	Local pain, swelling, blistering, necrosis ± flaccid paralysis	Electrocardiogram, respiratory assistance

Diet

This cobra's diet mainly consists of amphibians, other snakes, birds, eggs, small mammals, and even insects occasionally.

Habits

This snake is a nervous and highly strung snake. When confronted at close quarters this snake can rear up to as much as two-thirds of its length, spread its long narrow hood and will readily "spit" in defense, usually from a reared-up position. By doing this the venom can be ejected at a distance of 2-3 metres (5½ - 8¼ feet), with remarkable accuracy. The spitting cobra does not often actually bite despite its aggressive behaviour, and also shares the same habit of feigning death to avoid further molestation.

The average length of adults is between 900mm - 1,050mm (2½-3 feet), but largest specimen actually measured was a male 1,442mm (4 feet) long. (Trelawney, Zimbabwe)

When in a confined area like a tube the reptile will bite instead of spit. This is due to its aggressiveness.

Captive Behaviour
(only Naja nigricollis nigricollis)

Black-necked Spitting cobras can be very pleasant animals to keep captive bred specimens are often pretty docile in captivity but wild catch adults are furious spitters and shy animals to keep. Depending on the day temperature are day diurnal or nocturnal. In day time they often bask or hide in the enclosure at night they crawl around searching for food. Black-necked Spitting cobra are large snakes that need to be kept in fairly large enclosures to keep them happy. Handling them is fairly easy by the tailing technique or locking them in a hide box.

Feeding

Captive bred specimens can be easily fed with rodents like mice and rats also chicks will be accepted often dead or alive. Wild catched animals can often give problems in feeding especially when the snakes come out of a region were they ate mainly frogs and lizards. In the wild do they eat almost everything depending on the place where they live.

Enclosure

Black-necked Spitting Cobras are large and active snakes that need a large enclosure to crawl and climb around the size for a pair of these snakes should be 120 x 50 x 50 cm (length x height x wide). As a substrate we can use river sand, gravel or henna chips. As decoration we can use rocks, trunks, and plastic plants for hiding. Even when this snakes lives in a dry habitat do they like a large water bowl to take a bath. The average temperature in the enclosure should be 25-32⁰C in daytime and at night 22-25⁰C, the humidity most be around 60%.

Reproduction

In the wild is mating season at end of winter or beginning of summer and the babies hatch from the eggs in April and may. The eggs average 10 to 22 in number, hatchlings measure 230-250mm.
It is said that both the parents stay together to brood the eggs. The incubation period is about 88 days. The newly hatched cobras are armed with fangs and venom glands.

Breeding in Captivity

This season is often also the mating season in captivity but some snakes start mating in February or march and after a gestation period of 90 – 100 days does the female lay 10-24 eggs the eggs will hatch after 60-70 days and the baies are at birth 20-25 cm in length. The eggs need to be hatched on a temperature of 28-30⁰C.

First Aid to Victims

First aid treatment for Spitting cobras

The first lesson is "Rubbing the eyes will do a lot more harm than good"

A proper first aid treatment is rinse the eyes with large quantities of water or any other harmless fluid like a cold drink, milk or even beer. Do never try to neutralize the venom but rather to flush it from the eyes. Wipe any venom on the face away from the eyes. After this we need to seek medical advice, because it might be necessary to rinse the eyes by doctor with a serum dilution. In a normal way the eyes should recover fully in three or four days. Without a first aid treatment and no doctor visit the venom may cause partial blindness.

Venom

General: Venom Neurotoxins Postsynaptic neurotoxins

General: Venom Myotoxins Probably not present

General: Venom Procoagulants Probably not present

General: Venom Anticoagulants Probably not present

General: Venom Haemorrhagins Probably not present

General: Venom Nephrotoxins Probably not present

General: Venom Cardiotoxins Possibly present

General: Venom Necrotoxins Present but not defined

General: Venom Other Not present or not significant

Clinical Effects

General: Dangerousness Severe envenoming possible, potentially lethal

General: Rate of Envenoming: Unknown but likely to be high

General: Untreated Lethality Rate: Unknown but lethal potential cannot be excluded

General: Local Effects Marked local effects; pain, severe swelling, bruising, blistering, necrosis

General: Local Necrosis Common, moderate to severe

General: General Systemic Effects Variable non-specific effects which may include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dizziness, collapse or convulsions

General: Neurotoxic Paralysis May cause moderate to severe flaccid paralysis

General: Myotoxicity Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence

General: Coagulopathy & Haemorrhages Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence

General: Renal Damage Rare, usually secondary effect

General: Cardiotoxicity Rare, usually secondary

General: Other These snakes can spit their venom, causing venom spit ophthalmia.

First Aid

Description: First aid for bites by Elapid snakes which are likely to cause significant local damage at the bite site as their major clinical effect. This includes venom spat into eyes by spitting cobras.

Details Section 1: General first aid (for first aid of venom spit ophthalmia (venom in eyes) see Section 2 below). 1. After ensuring the patient and onlookers have moved out of range of further strikes by the snake, the bitten person should be reassured and persuaded to lie down and remain still. Many will be terrified, fearing sudden death and, in this mood, they may behave irrationally or even hysterically. The basis for reassurance is the fact that many venomous bites do not result in envenoming, the relatively slow progression to severe envenoming (hours following elapid bites, days following viper bites) and the effectiveness of modern medical treatment. 2. The bite wound should not be tampered with in any way. Wiping it once with a damp cloth to remove surface venom is unlikely to do much harm (or good) but the wound must not be massaged. 3. All rings or other jewellery on the bitten limb, especially on fingers, should be removed, as they may act as tourniquets if oedema develops. 4. The bitten limb should be immobilised as effectively as possible using an extemporised splint or sling; if available, crepe bandaging of the splinted limb is an effective form of immobilisation. 5. If there is any impairment of vital functions, such as problems with respiration, airway, circulation, heart function, these must be supported as a priority. In particular, for bites causing flaccid paralysis, including respiratory paralysis, both airway and respiration may be impaired, requiring urgent and prolonged treatment, which may include the mouth to mask (mouth to mouth) technique of expired air transfer. Seek urgent medical attention. 6. Do not use Tourniquets, cut, suck or scarify the wound or apply chemicals or electric shock. 7. Avoid peroral intake, absolutely no alcohol. No sedatives outside hospital. If there will be considerable delay before reaching medical aid, measured in several hours to days, then give clear fluids by mouth to prevent dehydration. 8. If the offending snake has been killed it should be brought with the patient for identification (only relevant in areas where there are more than one naturally occurring venomous snake species), but be careful to avoid touching the head, as even a dead snake can envenom. No attempt should be made to pursue the snake into the undergrowth as this will risk further bites. 9. The snakebite victim should be transported as quickly and as passively as possible to the nearest place where they can be seen by a medically-trained person (health station, dispensary, clinic or hospital). The bitten limb must not be exercised as muscular contraction will promote systemic absorption of venom. If no motor vehicle or boat is available, the patient can be carried on a stretcher or hurdle, on the pillion or crossbar of a bicycle or on someone's back. 10. Most traditional, and many of the more recently fashionable, first aid measures are useless and potentially dangerous. These include local cauterization, incision, excision, amputation, suction by mouth, vacuum pump or syringe, combined incision and suction ("venom-ex" apparatus), injection or instillation of compounds such as potassium permanganate, phenol (carbolic soap) and trypsin, application of electric shocks or ice (cryotherapy), use of traditional herbal, folk and other remedies including the ingestion of emetic plant products and parts of the snake, multiple incisions, tattooing and so on. Section 2: First aid for venom spit ophthalmia. 1. Venom coming into contact with eyes can cause intense conjunctivitis with a risk of corneal erosions, complicated by secondary infection, anterior uveitis and even permanent blindness. All this can occur following venom spat into the eyes from a spitting cobra. 2. Irrigate the eye or other affected mucous membrane as soon as possible using large volumes of water or any other available bland fluid. Never use chemical solutions or petroleum products such as petrol or kerosene. Milk is soothing and can be used, or in an emergency beer or urine are possibilities. Keep irrigating the eyes, hold them under a slowly running tap for a several minutes, while opening the eyelids and rotating the eyeball. The eye will be very painful, so patience, tact and reassurance are needed. 3. The eye should be bandaged using a pad over the eye and dark glasses worn. 4. Don''t let the victim rub the eye. 5. Seek urgent medical attention

Treatment

Treatment Summary Potentially severe bites, with both local tissue damage and paralysis. Admit all cases. Support impaired respiration. Good wound care essential. Avoid unnecessary surgery. For cases with paralytic features or major local effects, IV antivenom is appropriate.

Key Diagnostic Features Local pain, swelling, blistering, necrosis ± flaccid paralysis

General Approach to Management All cases should be treated as urgent & potentially lethal. Rapid assessment & commencement of treatment including appropriate antivenom (if indicated & available) is mandatory. Admit all cases.

Antivenom Therapy Antivenom is the key treatment for systemic envenoming. Multiple doses may be required.

Antivenoms

1. Antivenom Code: SAsRII03

Antivenom Name: Naja Antivenom

Manufacturer: Razi Serum & Vaccine Research Institute

Phone: ++98-21-311-9708

Address: P.O. Box 31975/148 Hessarak-Karadj

Country: I.R. Iran

2. Antivenom Code: SAfAVC03

Antivenom Name: Bivalent Naja / Walterinnesia Snake Antivenom

Manufacturer: National Antivenom and Vaccine Production Centre

Phone: ++966-1-252-0088

Address: P.O. Box 22490 11426 Riyadh

Country: Saudi Arabia Important Notice for First Aid treatment The principle aim of the First Aid listed above is to provide information useful to improving outcomes for humans suffering from envenoming or poisoning by animals. A reasonable attempt is made by the first Aid treatment website to verify accuracy of information listed on their site. However, we cannot access every published paper of potential relevance, either because they are not available to us or are in a language we cannot translate internally. Equally, we cannot list knowledge which is not yet reported or known. It should not be assumed that humankind currently knows all there is to know about any species, even for common species. Further, we cannot control how users will interpret the information provided on this site. We therefore do not accept legal responsibility for use of the information provided and we require that all users use information from this site at their own risk. The following should also be noted when reading information contained within the databases on the original website: italics for scientific nomenclature cannot be displayed, and superscripting and subscripting is absent in some instances. Source: KingSnake.com , Toxinology.com, ReptilePets.co.za, Wolfgang Wuster, Maik Dobiey , Google Images & Wikipedia Pics of Snake killed at our camp Eastern Hognose Snake is also sometimes thought to be a cobra, further reading link on Eastern Hognose Snake= http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/index.htm?http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/accounts/reptiles/snakes/E_hognose_snake/index.htm&2 http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/scra/snakes/ehognos.htm http://www.hognose.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hognose http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLU7FlhaNgU