Well ashei
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Naja ashei belongsto the genus of real cobras ( Naja )within the family of poisonous snakes (Elapidae). It was discovered in 2004 and described as a separate species in 2007.
designation
The species is named after the Kenyan James Ashe (1925-2004), who founded the Bio-Ken snake farm in Watamu on the Kenyan coast, where the snake was discovered.
The snake has long been identified as the brown variant of the African spitting cobra. However, it differs from all other spitting cobra species in Africa. Wolfgang Wüster and Donald Broadley published a description of the species Naja ashei in the journal Zootaxa in 2007 .
features
The top of Naja ashei's head is uniformly brownish-olive in color, with a lighter, grayer region on the upper lips and around the eyes. The underside of the head is coated with fine brownish-gray pigments. The top of the body and the rump are uniformly olive brown in color. The back of the neck is darker than the top of the head or body, directly towards the head. The middle underside of the body and the rear are brightly colored with pigments that mainly come into play from the sides.
Naja ashei differs from most East African black-necked cobras in the high number of scales on the top and bottom. Most naja ashei have over 195 ventral scales and at least 21 (usually more) scales around their necks, while most black-necked cobras have 195 or more ventral scales, but at most 21 but usually 19 or fewer scales around their neck, with fewer ventral scales the more there are on the neck. Naja ashei also differs from the other spitting cobra species in the number of scales.
distribution
Naja ashei is especially widespread in the north and on the coast of Kenya . It is also found in southern Somalia and southwestern Ethiopia . It can also be found in northwest Uganda , in the Karamoja region .
Poison
Well ashei is able to give off enormous amounts of poison. A large specimen that was milked at Bio-Ken's snake farm released 6.2 milliliters of liquid venom, which equates to 7.1 grams. Little is known about the toxins and their pharmacology . The poison secretion primarily contains three-finger toxins and phospholipase A2 enzymes. Furthermore, cysteine rich venom proteins (CRISP-Vs), 5'- nucleotidase and metalloproteinases can be detected.
Ingredients of the poison secretion act as postsynaptic neurotoxins , i.e. inhibit neurotransmission by blocking acetylcholine receptors . This can lead to paralysis or even paralysis . Death can result from peripheral respiratory paralysis . Furthermore, cytotoxic components lead to the formation of bubbles and necrosis . A specific antivenin is not available. In the case of severe intoxication , a therapeutic attempt with antisera against toxins of closely related species can be undertaken (e.g. 'Polyvalent Snake Venom Antiserum' from the manufacturer VACSERA, Egypt).
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ KK Hus, J. Buczkowicz u. a .: First Look at the Venom of Naja ashei. In: Molecules. Volume 23, number 3, March 2018, p., Doi : 10.3390 / molecules23030609 , PMID 29518026 .
- ↑ University of Adelaide, Clinical Toxinology Resources: Naja ashei (accessed June 28, 2018)
literature
- Wolfgang Wüster & Donald G. Broadley: Get an eyeful of this: a new species of giant spitting cobra from eastern and north-eastern Africa (Squamata: Serpentes: Elapidae: Naja) Zootaxa 1532, 2007: pp. 51–68. ISSN 1175-5326 full text as pdf (English)