Snakes and Sight
Snakes have good vision, but it is used mainly for detecting movement. Hence, the old but true saying that if you encounter a snake the best thing to do is to stand perfectly still.
Snakes have good vision, but it is used mainly for detecting movement. Hence, the old but true saying that if you encounter a snake the best thing to do is to stand perfectly still.
All corporate companies are responsible for the health and safety of their employees whilst on-site. For sites situated in areas where staff are exposed to snake encounters, it is imperative that staff are given correct training in snake awareness, and what to do in the case of snake encounters on-site. For remote sites, having a few trained snake handlers on each shift can be an invaluable asset.
All corporate sites are responsible for the health and safety of their employees whilst on-site. For sites situated in areas where staff are exposed to snake encounters, it is imperative that staff are given correct training in snake awareness and information on what to do in the case of snake encounters. For sites situated in remote areas, having trained snake handlers on each shift can be an invaluable asset.
Spitting in snakes is found in some of the cobras of the genus Naja and the Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus). The ability to project or spit venom occurs in both Asian and African Cobras and appears to have evolved separately on both continents. Out of the 33 species of true cobra around the world, spitting has evolved in 15 species, therefore less than half are able to spit venom. In southern Africa, spitting occurs in 4 cobra species and the Rinkhals.
Mole snakes are large powerful constrictors with a pointed snout and a small head very well adapted for their burrowing existence. They spend most of their time underground in search of food. Here they push their way through soft sand in search of mole rats and other rodents. They use their powerful jaws and sharp teeth along with the muscular body to quickly bite and coil around any prey encountered.
There are around thirty species of cobra in the world, with an additional three subspecies and three extinct species. They are found from south-east Asia through the Arab region into Africa. Ironically, the King Cobra is not a true cobra and is in its own genus Opiophagus – meaning “snake –eater”. The true cobras all fall under the genus Naja. Naja is a Sanskrit word for snake.
The Green mamba is an attractive bright green snake, with velvety scales and may have scattered yellow scales across the body.
Museums hold a selection of animals, usually multiple specimens from different regions across the range. Each specimen has a label that gives identification, collection date and most importantly, coordinates for the location of where the specimen was collected from. Scientists and academics use these specimens, and attached information, to describe species and create the distribution maps we use in field guides.
Until recently, snake tongs have been a tool only used by scientists and snake keepers and at snake parks. Knowing the right practices is vitally important.
In the warmer months of summer, when the rains arrive, there is a small brown scorpion in Gauteng which starts moving and often enters houses. This little scorpion is called the Plain Pygmy-Thicktail (Pseudolychus ochraceus).