Sri-lankan pit viper
An endemic pit viper with its characteristic green colouration and triangular head. Its green coat is camouflaged by yellow mottles outlined by black. Its camouflage often allows it to go unnoticed even to a trained eye until it gives itself away by moving. It has an extremely prehensile tail which proves vital for it s arboreal nature.Highly active by day and may adapt a nocturnal lifestyle if the conditions determine so. Due to its effective camouflage it is seldom roused by human contact. If it by chance gets discovered it usually makes every attempt to escape and avoid confrontation. However if cornered or handled may get roused and strike. Larger specimens seldom hesitate to bite if required to do so.
Red spitting cobra
A spitting cobra is one of several spices of cobra that have the ability to eject venom from their fangs when defending themselves against predators. The sprayed venom is harmless to intact skin. However, it can cause permanent blindness if introduced to the eye and left untreated (causing chensis and cornel swelling).
Despite their name, these snakes do not actually spit their venom. The venom sprays out in distinctive geometric patterns, 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. The explanation that a large gust of air is expelled from the lung to propel the venom forward has been proven wrong. 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
Despite their name, these snakes do not actually spit their venom. The venom sprays out in distinctive geometric patterns, 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. The explanation that a large gust of air is expelled from the lung to propel the venom forward has been proven wrong. 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
Egyptian Cobra
The Egyptian cobra characterized by the unique shape of its head which is topped by a hood. The average Egyptian cobra can grow up to 8 feet in length. When compared to the proportions of its body the head seems to be relatively larger and has a depressed shape along with a broad snout. It is also equipped with large sized round pupils and a neck that can measure up to 18 cm in diameter.
The cobra is found in a number of different color variations. However different shades of brown tend of be most popular. They have a trademark teardrop spot right below their eyes. The same species is also found in northwestern Africa, Morocco and Western Sahara although these tend to be completely black in color.
Egyptian cobra Habitat
The ideal environment for the Egyptian cobra is a dry or slightly moist semi-desert or savanna region. In order to sustain itself the cobra needs to build its home in an area which has some amount of water and vegetation hence desert areas are definitely ruled out. Oases on the other hand tend to be the ideal habitat for the Egyptian cobra. Similarly they may be found on the agricultural grounds, grasslands and hills with sparse vegetation. Historically Egyptian cobras have been known to enter into houses. There are various things that attract Egyptian cobras to human civilization such as the chance to feast on chickens, rats and the various contents commonly found in garbage dumps. Egyptian cobra is also a great swimmer and has been observed in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
Egyptian Cobra Behavior
This particular species of cobra is known for being highly terrestrial and lives the nocturnal lifestyle in the wild. When in the captivity they tend to develop a diurnality behavior. It may also be seen basking in the sunlight in the wee hours of the morning even in the wild. The Egyptian cobra builds permanent houses and chooses locations like abandoned animal burrows, rock outcrops, termite mounds and other such places. Although it tries to make its way into human habitations in lurch of domestic fowl it is a shy reptile which will make all attempts to escape when approached by human beings. When threatened the Egyptian cobra assumes its fighting position which is an upright posture along with which it expands its hood in order to show the potential enemy that the cobra is on guard.
The Egyptian cobra is armed with deadly venom and has the ability to inject up to 200 mg of venom in a single bite. It has been classified as the third most toxic venom that is released by any species of cobras. The Philippine cobra is at the top followed by the Cape cobra with the Egyptian cobra acquiring the third spot. However in terms of the overall danger that the cobra poses to its preys as well as any human that it may come in contact with is far greater than the other two cobras. This is primarily because of the large size of the Egyptian cobra plus the fact that it can deliver a higher dose of venom in a single bite when compared to the other species.
The cobra is found in a number of different color variations. However different shades of brown tend of be most popular. They have a trademark teardrop spot right below their eyes. The same species is also found in northwestern Africa, Morocco and Western Sahara although these tend to be completely black in color.
Egyptian cobra Habitat
The ideal environment for the Egyptian cobra is a dry or slightly moist semi-desert or savanna region. In order to sustain itself the cobra needs to build its home in an area which has some amount of water and vegetation hence desert areas are definitely ruled out. Oases on the other hand tend to be the ideal habitat for the Egyptian cobra. Similarly they may be found on the agricultural grounds, grasslands and hills with sparse vegetation. Historically Egyptian cobras have been known to enter into houses. There are various things that attract Egyptian cobras to human civilization such as the chance to feast on chickens, rats and the various contents commonly found in garbage dumps. Egyptian cobra is also a great swimmer and has been observed in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
Egyptian Cobra Behavior
This particular species of cobra is known for being highly terrestrial and lives the nocturnal lifestyle in the wild. When in the captivity they tend to develop a diurnality behavior. It may also be seen basking in the sunlight in the wee hours of the morning even in the wild. The Egyptian cobra builds permanent houses and chooses locations like abandoned animal burrows, rock outcrops, termite mounds and other such places. Although it tries to make its way into human habitations in lurch of domestic fowl it is a shy reptile which will make all attempts to escape when approached by human beings. When threatened the Egyptian cobra assumes its fighting position which is an upright posture along with which it expands its hood in order to show the potential enemy that the cobra is on guard.
The Egyptian cobra is armed with deadly venom and has the ability to inject up to 200 mg of venom in a single bite. It has been classified as the third most toxic venom that is released by any species of cobras. The Philippine cobra is at the top followed by the Cape cobra with the Egyptian cobra acquiring the third spot. However in terms of the overall danger that the cobra poses to its preys as well as any human that it may come in contact with is far greater than the other two cobras. This is primarily because of the large size of the Egyptian cobra plus the fact that it can deliver a higher dose of venom in a single bite when compared to the other species.
Night Adder
Length:
60 cm average; 90 cm maximum
Description:
This is a comparatively slender, smooth-scaled adder whose head is no broader than its neck. It can be recognised by the well-defined V-shaped marking on the back of the head which reaches forward to between the eyes, and the squarish markings along the back. These markings are either black over grey, or dark brown over light brown, although in the berg they tend to be of the former combination. As its name suggests, this snake is almost strictly nocturnal. It is most likely to be encountered in damp environments such as the indigenous forests found in the berg. It is a comparatively placid snake but can put on a show of great ferocity, coiling its body in a continuous circling motion, hissing loudly and striking out viciously before making off with its head held well off the ground.
Biology:
The diet consists mainly of frogs, lizards and small rodents. From 12 to 26 eggs are laid in summer.
Poisoning Symptoms:
The venom is mildly cytotoxic (cell-destroying). Most bites result in only minimal swelling with painful enlargement of the glands in the affected limb. These symptoms disappear after a few days.
Treatment:
This is not a serious emergency unless positive identification of the snake has not been achieved. Calm and immobilise the victim. Use a suction kit if you have one (theAspivenin kit is highly recommended by most snake handlers). APPLY A PRESSURE BANDAGE. Contact a Poison Information Centre and hospitalise the victim as soon as possible. Antivenin has no effect against the venom of this species.
Remarks:
During a youth hike a youngster ventured barefoot out of Leopard Cave during the night to answer a call of nature. Later, after returning to bed, he awoke complaining of a headache, nausea and a sore foot. On inspection the leader found two puncture wounds in his foot. As a precaution he was evacuated to hospital in the morning but suffered no further ill effects and made a quick recovery. He was lucky - Night Adders are common in this heavily forested area. He could have been bitten by a Puff Adder or Berg Adder, in which case his plight would have been far more serious!
60 cm average; 90 cm maximum
Description:
This is a comparatively slender, smooth-scaled adder whose head is no broader than its neck. It can be recognised by the well-defined V-shaped marking on the back of the head which reaches forward to between the eyes, and the squarish markings along the back. These markings are either black over grey, or dark brown over light brown, although in the berg they tend to be of the former combination. As its name suggests, this snake is almost strictly nocturnal. It is most likely to be encountered in damp environments such as the indigenous forests found in the berg. It is a comparatively placid snake but can put on a show of great ferocity, coiling its body in a continuous circling motion, hissing loudly and striking out viciously before making off with its head held well off the ground.
Biology:
The diet consists mainly of frogs, lizards and small rodents. From 12 to 26 eggs are laid in summer.
Poisoning Symptoms:
The venom is mildly cytotoxic (cell-destroying). Most bites result in only minimal swelling with painful enlargement of the glands in the affected limb. These symptoms disappear after a few days.
Treatment:
This is not a serious emergency unless positive identification of the snake has not been achieved. Calm and immobilise the victim. Use a suction kit if you have one (theAspivenin kit is highly recommended by most snake handlers). APPLY A PRESSURE BANDAGE. Contact a Poison Information Centre and hospitalise the victim as soon as possible. Antivenin has no effect against the venom of this species.
Remarks:
During a youth hike a youngster ventured barefoot out of Leopard Cave during the night to answer a call of nature. Later, after returning to bed, he awoke complaining of a headache, nausea and a sore foot. On inspection the leader found two puncture wounds in his foot. As a precaution he was evacuated to hospital in the morning but suffered no further ill effects and made a quick recovery. He was lucky - Night Adders are common in this heavily forested area. He could have been bitten by a Puff Adder or Berg Adder, in which case his plight would have been far more serious!