Cape Cobra
| Cape Cobra | ||||||||||||
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Cape Cobra ( Naja nivea ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Well nivea | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The Cape cobra ( Naja nivea ), also Cape cobra , is a regionally more common species of the poisonous snake family (Elapidae). With a length of 120–170 cm, it is a smaller species compared to other cobras. Nevertheless, it is considered the most poisonous cobra in Africa.
Occurrence
The Cape Cobra lives in South Africa , Botswana and Namibia . It prefers dry savannahs and semi-deserts , but also lives near the edges of rivers and particularly likes to be in the immediate vicinity of human dwellings. Sometimes this species also penetrates into the houses. Cape cobras come at heights of up to 2700 m above sea level. M. before.
features
With a length of 1.2–1.7 m, this snake is comparatively small for a cobra. She has a slim build. The rather flat head stands out clearly from the body. Depending on the geographical location, there are different variations in coloration. Cream-colored to lemon-yellow specimens occur mainly in Botswana and Transvaal, but also in other parts of the distribution area; in Botswana there is also a yellow, brown dotted shape, while in the Cape region mainly black or brown Cape cobras are native.
The furrow poison teeth, which are immobile in the upper jaw, are relatively short compared to other cobra species. Typical of diurnal reptiles, the eyes have round pupils. Typically 19–21 rows of smooth scales surround the center of the trunk.
Way of life
Cape cobras live on the ground, stay in trees less often than other snakes and like to hide in holes in the ground. They are active both during the day and at dusk and then look for their prey. As with almost all species of the genus Naja, the prey is killed by a bite. In the cold season, usually between May and August, it hibernates.
When threatened, it straightens its front body and shoots forward to bite, even several times. Coupled with its potent venom (one bite can be a lethal dose for up to six people), it is very dangerous to humans.
food
- Rodents,
- smaller birds (especially weaver birds ),
- Amphibians
- as well as snakes and other reptiles.
Toxicity
The cape cobra's venom is one of the most potent within the genus. The danger is based on the high proportion of alpha toxins, which irreversibly block synapses . It has a neurotoxic character and leads to death in prey within a few seconds. This poison is also extremely dangerous for humans. If left untreated, the poison leads to death in around 50% of cases of bite.
The first symptoms after a bite are speech disorders, difficulty swallowing and drooping eyelids. In addition to cardiovascular disorders, progressive paralysis also occurs, which also affects the respiratory muscles and thus leads to death from suffocation. Local pain, swelling , blood blisters and tissue necrosis can occur.
Reproduction
Little is known about reproduction in the wild. The mating takes place in the months of February to April. The female lays around 15 to 20 eggs in abandoned, damp rodent burrows in June or July. The young snakes hatch after 5 to 7 weeks, depending on the temperature.
literature
- Mark O'Shea, Tim Halliday: Reptiles and Amphibians. Dorling-Kindersley Verlag, London 2001, ISBN 3-8310-1015-3 .
- Mark O'Shea: Venomous snakes. All species in the world in their habitats. Franckh-Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-440-10619-5 .
