Pseudohaje goldii
| Pseudohaje goldii | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Pseudohaje goldii | ||||||||||||
| ( Boulenger , 1895) |
Pseudohaje goldii is a species of snake from the family of poisonous snakes (Elapidae) and belongs to the genus of forest cobras ( Pseudohaje ).
Common names
There are various slang terms in both German and English, including Golds Waldkobra and Golds Baumkobra . The name black forest cobra , which is also often mentioned, can lead to confusion with Pseudohaje nigra .
features
Pseudohaje goldii reaches a total length between 200 and 270 cm. The body is slim. The head is relatively short and hardly separates from the neck. The eyes are large and have a round pupil. The tail is long, the tip of the tail has a pointed thorn. The upper side of the body is glossy blue-black. The belly, sides of the head and the tip of the snout are yellowish or white in color. The belly shields are monochrome on the front body, bordered in black in the rear area and turn black towards the tail. The hat typical of cobras, which is put up as a threatening gesture by spreading the front ribs, is hardly developed in Pseudohaje goldii and is very narrow. As is typical for venomous snakes, the venom apparatus consists of venom glands located on the side of the skull (specialized salivary glands ) and immobile fangs located in the anterior upper jaw (proteroglyphic tooth position).
Pholidosis
The pholidosis (scaling) shows the following characteristics:
- 7 to 8 upper lip shields ( supralabials ),
- 8 lower lip shields ( sublabials ),
- 15 rows of smooth trunk scales ( Scuta dorsalia ),
- 185 to 205 abdominal shields ( Scuta ventralia ),
- 76 to 94 paired under- tail shields ( Scuta subcaudalia ) and
- 1 split anal shield ( scutum anale ).
Systematics
The first scientific description was made by George Albert Boulenger under the name Naia goldii in 1895. The specific epithet honors George Taubman Goldie .
There are molecular biology necessary investigations to the phylogenetic status with Pseudohaje nigra to clarify, that is, whether they are different species involved or populations of the same species.
distribution
The distribution area is in sub-Saharan Africa and includes areas in Angola (including Cabinda ), Burundi , Cameroon , Central African Republic , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Republic of the Congo , Equatorial Guinea , Gabon , Ghana , Kenya , Nigeria , Rwanda and Uganda . Areas at altitudes up to 1700 m are populated. The habitat is represented by wooded, tree-lined and mostly water-based biotopes. Pseudohaje goldii is widespread, but the population density is probably very low. The species is rarely found.
Way of life
Pseudohaje goldii leads a diurnal, nocturnal and climbing lifestyle. It may be aquatic at times. The range of prey primarily includes frogs and climbing small mammals . Hunting and feeding often take place on the ground. For digestion, the species retreats into the branches of the trees. The propagation is done by oviparity so oviparous. A clutch can comprise 10 to 20 eggs, which are approximately 50 × 25 mm in size. The young snakes measure around 40 cm when they hatch. Pseudohaje goldii flees quickly when threatened, but when cornered, she defends herself with threatening gestures (hissing sounds and straightened, flattened front body) and poisonous bites. The snake is extremely agile in its movements.
Snake venom
Little is known about the composition and pharmacology of the poisonous secretion of Pseudohaje goldii as well as clinical reports of poisoning cases. However, poison bites must be taken seriously and viewed as potentially life threatening. Medical monitoring for at least 18 hours is recommended. The presence of extremely potent neurotoxins is suspected. Life-threatening complications can therefore range from symptoms of paralysis to paralysis . Peripheral respiratory paralysis can lead to death. Since there are rarely encounters with humans and the snake only defends itself with poisonous bites in distress and with no escape option, incidents are hardly known. Information on deaths from poison bites of the species should be viewed critically.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c O'Shea: Venomous snakes; all species of the world in their habitats , Franckh-Kosmos-Verlag, 2006.
- ↑ a b IUCN Red List: Pseudohaje nigra (accessed on June 28, 2018)
- ↑ a b c d e University of Adelaide, Clinical Toxinology Resources: Pseudohaje goldii (accessed June 28, 2018)
literature
- Ludwig Trutnau: Snakes in the Terrarium Vol. 2: Poisonous snakes . Verlag Ulmer, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-800-1705-23 .