How to Identify Snakes?
We have almost four hundred thousand members on our various Facebook and social media groups and pages, and the most frequently asked question is, “How do you identify snakes?”
We have almost four hundred thousand members on our various Facebook and social media groups and pages, and the most frequently asked question is, “How do you identify snakes?”
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.
Spring is in full swing in Southern Africa – temperatures are rising, birds are nesting, and we’ve even seen a few minor rain showers.
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.
First described by Bonnaterre, back in 1790, the Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) is a snake often encountered in urban areas of the highveld.
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.
The genus Bitis comprises of 18 species restricted to Africa with the exception of the Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) which has a limited distribution on the Arabian Peninsula. Of these 18 species, 12 are considered Dwarf Adders. Southern Africa has 10 of the 12 Dwarf Adders.
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