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Spitters
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by IanG on August 15, 2002
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Hi, again !
The forum seems a wee bit slow these days, but because i visit each day im at work it will be..
Anyway, Spitting Cobra questions:
1, is it only Spitting Cobras that spit venom..
2, i believe i read somewhere they dont evenomate, is this correct, i would of thought they would so they could kill there prey, and start the digestive process
3, is there many types of Cobras that spit..
obligatory statement,
i dont keep snakes although im very interested in them.
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RE: Spitters
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by Chance on August 15, 2002
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Spitting cobras are the only cobras that can very accurately aim their venom. However, other cobras have been known to "spit" as well. Most people believe that this is when the snake just gets so aggitated in it's hissing and dripping venom that the air escaping the snake's throat causes some of the venom to spray.
Spitters most definitely do envenomate. The only difference between a spitter and a normal cobra is that the opening on the fang is on the front part of the fang, rather than at the bottom. Other differences could include venom makeup and such. People have definitely been bitten by spitters and envenomated, though usually these snakes would rather spit than bite. A thing to worry about with spitters: they seem to be able to spit, and spit, and spit, so if they were to ever latch hold, don't doubt that they couldn't easily pump in much more than what it would take. Most African spitters are considered lethally dangerous to humans, though they certainly will cause lots of tissue destruction. The Asiatic spitters however, can be quite hot.
There are a good number of cobras that have specifically evolved the ability to spit. I'm not exactly sure how many, but just to name a few there are the nigricolis, pallida, and black (sorry, forget the Latin) spitters in Africa, and then there are the siamensis and sputatrix to name a few of the Asians. Fascinating animals....but boy can they have bad temperaments.
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RE: Spitters
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by Naja_oxiana on August 18, 2002
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<1, is it only Spitting Cobras that spit venom?
Supposidly no. It seems that on species of crotalid has evolved to spit it's venom. Ermia mangsnanensis, formerly placed in Trimeresaurus, supposidly shots its' venom quite accuratly. I, for one, would very much like to get my hands on a few to disect and a few live ones to observe. Other than that, yes, only a few Naja and the monotypic Hemachatus spit their venom.
2, i believe i read somewhere they dont evenomate, is this correct, i would of thought they would so they could kill there prey, and start the digestive process
Their venom is quite cytotoxic and they do envenomate. See spawls/branch, 1995 for pics of spitting cobra bites.
3, is there many types of Cobras that spit..
I think that there are four or five spitting species in African Naja, a few more in the Asian representitives. Then there is the aforementioned Hemachatus.
Cheers
Roger
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