Cape Cobra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cape Cobra | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||
| Naja nivea (Linnaeus, 1758) |
||||||||||||||||
| Synonyms | ||||||||||||||||
|
Naja flava Merrem |
The Cape Cobra (Naja nivea) is a moderately sized cobra inhabiting the arid regions of Southern Africa. It averages 4 feet (120cm) long but may grow to be 6 feet (180cm) long. The color varies from location to location, and those from the Kalahari are normally yellow with brown speck uniformly all over the body.
This snake is diurnal: it is primarily active during the day and early evening. It feeds on a wide spectrum of prey, including other snakes, and tends to climb low trees and raid weaver bird colonies. It is also attracted to rodents.
A nervous snake, it produces a powerful neurotoxin that affects the respiratory system. Without proper antivenom treatment the mortality rate in humans is 60% and death normally occurs 2-5 hours after being bitten and is usually as a result of respiratory failure due to the onset of paralysis. The snake is quick to strike and becomes aggressive if cornered, but given its space it is likely to retreat. Its main predators are various species of raptors inhabiting the area and the honey badger or ratel.
The female lays 8-20 large eggs (60 x 30 mm) in a burrow.
The Cape Cobra is also known as the "geelslang" (yellow snake) and "bruinkapel" (brown cobra). Afrikaans speaking South Africans refer to the Cape Cobra as "koperkapel", mainly due to a rich yellow colour variation. It has the most potent venom of all African cobras. It is probably the snake with the highest fatality count in the Southern parts of South Africa.
