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Black neck spitter
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by chewwy on March 20, 2003
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I have been trying to find info on the potency of the blk neck spitter and having no luck. Where does it stand among the venoms. I checked the lD-50 list and he wasn't there, so it must not be to toxic.
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RE: Black neck spitter
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by TAIPAN78 on March 20, 2003
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Very bad asumption Chewy!!! Just because a sp is not listed on the LD50 listing does not mean that it isnt lethal. More then likely, BGF never tested any nigricollis during the project.
I personaly am unaware of Naja nigricollis ssp venom potentancy but they are hands down the most toxic spitters in Africa. I would go as far as to say they are the most dangerous spitters period!! Blk necks are far and away the largest spitter on the planet and have the largest venom yeild of any spitter, if not any cobra. Their heads appear to be enlarged to accomidate the larger volume of venom for spitting and although I dont have any exact yeilds, I would say 600 mgs from an adult wouldnt be at all far fetched(truthfully, I would think they could hold even more but I will stay with my conservative estimate for the time being).
They are also very fast and agile for a Naja and seem to be alot more aware then atleast any of the Asian sp I have worked with. The babies are about the worst cobras in the world to handle with only Naja melanoluca being able to compete. Freinds and I reffer to em as wet noodles and this is the best discription I have ever heard for them. They fall off a hook in an instant and can move faster then any snake I have worked with besides the 3 biggest and baddest boys(taipans, mambas and forest cobras).
As for adults, though i only have one female juvi, the parents of her were some 7 1/2 ft and I have heard of people with 8ft plus specimens before! Luckly, adults, especially CBs seem to be rather docile and dont spitt much. On the other hand, WC I have heard can be extreamly spitty and are quite the formidable snake.
Anyway, back to the venom its self, it falls under the same catogorey as other African spitters. Its primarily hemotoxic and local effects are often extreamly horendous. Amputaions are quite common and local necrosis is almost a given with these.
On last note on LD50s. You must remeber that no matter what one can not exactly relate an LD50 standing on the actual poteancy in humans. Humans are not the subjects of these test and no one I know would be willing to volunteer.
To push the point even further, the lowest LD50 standing on BGF's list is the bushmaster. However, bushmaster bites are reagred as one of the worst out of any snake and their mortality rate is extreamly high. Why is this you ask? Well mostly because they can inject up to 500mgs in one bite, if not more! If you look at the yeilds for most rattle snakes, sp such as C.atrox average around 200mgs per bite and they inject alot. Now imagine how bad it would be to have 500 mgs in ya!!!
Welp, im not trying to bust your chops but rather to make people understand that LD50 testing is not ment to
be an exact indication of toxcicity in humans but rather to give us an idea. Unless your a mouse, LD50 standings are not really valid. In the words of Mr Brian Bush, "the most dangerous snake in the world is the one hanging off of your leg".
Hope this helps some.
All the best,
Jeremy
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RE: Black neck spitter
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by Hotherps on March 21, 2003
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We have extracted up to 1.5 grams (dry weight) from a single specimen. This was from a very large snake.
Regards, Paul D. Rowley
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