| Gold's Tree Cobra | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpenta |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Pseudohaje |
| Species: | P. goldii |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudohaje goldii (George Albert Boulenger, 1895) |
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Pseudohaje goldii or the Gold's Tree Cobra is a species of tree cobra (Pseudohaje means False Cobra) found in Central and Western Africa. This species is one of the two tree cobras in Africa, the other being the Black Tree Cobra (Pseudohaje nigra). The Gold's Tree Cobra is one of the most venomous snakes and creatures in Africa.
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It is one of the largest venomous snakes in Africa, measuring 2.2–2.7 metres (7.2–8.9 ft) long. Body color of this species is glossy black and its common name, Gold’s Tree Cobra, comes from its gold-yellow belly and chin. It has a cylindrical body with long, spiky tail, which makes the snake more adaptable to arboreal life. The head is small with exceptionally large eyes, giving the snake excellent eyesight. There are usually 15 rows of dorsal scales on the midbody, though there are rare specimens that have 17 rows.
It can be found in Central and Western equatorial African countries, including Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Cameroon, and Central African Republic. It inhabits forests and woodland along rivers and streams. Being an arboreal species, it is seldom found in open land.
Despite its large size, it is a highly agile snake. It is equally comfortable on trees, on ground and in the water. It can move quickly and gracefully through trees with the aid of its spiky tail. It is also a very secretive snake which is rarely seen by people. However, it is one of the few snakes that are considered aggressive. When threatened, it rears up and spreads a typical cobra hood, though its hood is much narrower than that of the Naja naja. If it is further provoked, the snake may attempt to bite. Though it cannot spit its venom, its bite is very potent and potentially lethal. It is reputedly ill-tempered. Hence, it has the reputation of being the “mamba on crack” to show its danger. It may also use its tail spike to defend itself if restrained.
Its venom is one of the most toxic and deadly of all African snakes. Venom of this species is primarily a neurotoxin, like most Elapidae. It is quick acting and extremely potent, easily killing a person. Moreover, there is no known specific antivenom made. Bite symptoms include swelling and stinging pain around the bite wound, numbness of limbs and lip, severe difficulty in breathing, sweating profusely and blurred vision. Victims may die of respiratory failure. A number of people are killed by this species.
It mainly preys on amphibians and arboreal mammals, such as squirrels. It is also known to take fish occasionally.
It is oviparous. The female will lay 10 to 20 eggs.