Africa's most venomous snakes - Venomous, Poisonous, Dangerous, and other Wonders Venomous, Poisonous, Dangerous, and other Wonders snakes ‎ > ‎ Africa's most venomous snakes Out of the more than 2,900 species of snakes in the world about 600 species only are known to be venomous. Venomous snakes have highly specialized teeth such as hollow fangs, through which they deliver venom to immobilize prey, or for self-defense. A venomous snake bite quickly affects different organs including the lungs, heart, central nervous system, red blood cells and muscles. Venom can be neurotoxic, haemotoxic or myotoxic. Though Australia is known to be home to the majority of the world's most venomous snakes, Africa has its share of potentially highly dangerous species: here are the main ones. 1) COBRAS Among the most notable attributes of the dreaded cobras are their powerful - often deadly - venom and their hood that can enlarge. Here are some notably poisonous species of African cobras. - Egyptian Cobra (Naja haje) The most common cobra in Africa occurs from the Sahara Desert to the Syrian Desert and can measure up to 8 ft (2.4 meters).

It is responsible for many deaths. When threatened, it raises the front part of its body and spreads its neck into a hood. It will continue attacking until it feels an escape is possible. The extremely strong venom of the Egyptian cobra is neurotoxic: it destroys nerve tissue, causing paralysis and death due to respiratory failure, usually within 15 minutes. This venom is used in medical research because it has an enzyme, lecithinase, that dissolves cell walls and membranes surrounding viruses. - Cape Cobra (Naja nivea) This medium sized cobra has a highly neurotoxic venom that is thought to be the most potent of all African cobras. It is responsible for many deaths in southern Africa. - Forest Cobra (Naja melanoleuca) This large snake from the tropical and subtropical rain forests of Western, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa is sometimes considered to be the least dangerous of the Najas. Its bite, however, can be rapidly fatal without prompt intervention. - Gold's Tree Cobra (Pseudohaje goldii) and Black Tree Cobra (Pseudohaje nigra) These two large and primarily arboreal species are found in the forests of tropical Africa.

They have a reputation for being particularly ill-tempered and have an extremely toxic venom. - Ashe's Spitting Cobra (Naja ashei) This aggressive and extremely venomous snake can grow to more than 9 feet (274 centimeters) long, making it the largest spitting cobra. - Red Spitting Cobra (Naja pallida) Common in northeast Africa, (Nile valley, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia), these nocturnal snakes can spit venom at 2 m(7 feet). - Mozambique Spitting Cobra (Naja mossambica) Possibly the most dangerous snake in Africa after the Mamba. This southeast African snake is nervous and highly strung. When confronted at close quarters it can rear up two-thirds of its length, spread its long narrow hood and will readily "spit" in defense. - Black Spitting Cobra (Naja nigricollis) Occurring throughout Africa, this snake rarely spits but is capable of atomizing venom accurately to a distance of up to 20 feet. Though usually shy, it will bite unpredictably, its neurotoxic venom causing grave tissue damage often requiring amputation of a limb or provoking death.

- West African Brown Spitting Cobra (Naja katiensis) A small spitter occurring in the dry savannas of West Africa. - Ringhal or Rinkhal (Hemachatus haemachatus) Found in southern Africa, this spitting cobra is the smallest and the only ovoviviparous (giving birth to live young) of the cobras. 2) MAMBAS Mambas are close cousins to the cobras. They are extremely poisonous snakes with the (deserved) reputation of being very aggressive. There are only a few species in Africa. - Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) Measuring eight to ten feet in length, the black mamba is found in the southern part of tropical Africa. The fastest land snake in the world, it can reach speeds of 10-12 mph (16-19 km/h) in short bursts over level ground. The black mamba is much more terrestrial than the other three species of mamba, though it does climb trees in search of prey and to bask or seek shelter.

It is an aggressive snake that springs up to strike when not able to escape, so when someone gets bitten, it's usually on the head. After biting its prey, often multiple times, a black mamba leaves it to die, which only takes minutes thanks to its amazingly strong venom. The bite of the black mamba is deadly and will kill a human in roughly 4 hours. The venom is neurotoxic and cardiotoxic. If not treated the symptoms include: a tightening of the chest muscles, blurred vision, mental confusion, and an overall feeling of great discomfort. Before antivenin was available the bite of a black mamba was always fatal. - Green Mamba or Eastern Green Mamba (Dendraspis angusticeps) Occurring in the coastal regions of southeast Africa, this long slender arboreal mamba, is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in the world. It is aggressive and has a highly neurotoxic venom: its victim has little chance to escape from a bite. - West African Green Mamba (Dendroaspis viridis) A green and black mamba living in the forests of West Africa.

- Jameson's Mamba (Dendroaspis jamesoni) A duller green forest snake occurring in much of equatorial Africa. 3) ADDERS/VIPERS Many Adders or Vipers occur throughout Africa, and mainly southern Africa, most of them are not deadly, though they remain highly poisonous. - Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) A large and stocky adder found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa. This slow-moving, bad-tempered and excitable snake may hiss or puff when disturbed. It relies on its perfect camouflage and will rather freeze than move off. It is responsible for many serious snakebite cases. This is one of the front-fanged snakes. When it strikes, the fangs fold forward and inject a cytotoxic venom deep into the prey. Even when one the victim is treated with an anti-venom, the damage done to the body tissues is often tremendous. - Gaboon Viper or Gaboon Adder (Bitis gabonica) The largest African viper, occurring in forests on most of the continent. This snake has a striking coloration and pattern that nevertheless offers it camouflage.

It can be longer than 6 feet (2 m) and weigh more than 15 pounds (6.8 kg). The fangs of a large adult may exceed two inches (5 cm) in length. It bites when molested or stepped on and injects large amounts of a venom that is both neurotoxic and haemotoxic. With the puff adder, the Gaboon adder has the most dangerous venom of the African vipers. - Rhinoceros Viper or Rhinoceros-horned Viper (Bitis nasicornis) A large heavy bodied viper with a prominent nasal horn found in the forests of equatorial Africa. Its beautiful color and pattern make it invisible on the forest floor. - Berg Adder (Bitis atropos), This small southern African snake, unlike most vipers, has a major neurotoxic venom that affects the eyes and other sensory functions and is not neutralized by existing antivenom. - Western Bush Viper or West African Bush Viper, or Green Bush Viper (Atheris chlorerchis) Found in the forests of West Africa from Guinea east to Gabon.

This slender bush viper is relatively large: 45-60 cm (18-24 inches). This species is largely arboreal and is often found in low bushes and shrubs in rain forests at altitudes of up to 560 meters. - Bush Viper or Leaf Viper (Atheris squamiger) This arboreal snake occurs throughout Africa: Angola, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, DRC... It uses its prehensile tail to secure itself to branches. It is not aggressive and though its haemotoxic venom is strong, healthy adults rarely die from its bite.

Other African adder species include: the Albany Adder (Bitis albanica); the Southern Adder (Bitis armata) found in South Africa; the Horned Adder (Bitis caudalis) from the Namib and Kalahari deserts; the Many Horned Adder (Bitis cornuta) found along southern Africa's western coast; the rare Angolan Adder ( Bitis heraldica); the Plain Mountain Adder (Bitis inornata) found in the Cape Province, South Africa; the Ethiopian Mountain Adder (Bitis parviocula); Peringuey's Adder (Bitis peringueyu) found in the Namib desert; the Red Adder (Bitis rubida) found in the Western Cape Province of South Africa; the tiny Namaqua Dwarf Adder (Bitis schneideri) of Namibia; Kenya Horned Viper (Bitis worthingtoni); the Desert Mountain Adder (Bitis xerophaga) of Southern Africa; the Lowland Swamp Viper (Atheris superciliaris) of eastern Africa, the Common or Rhombic Night Adder (Causus rhombeatus) and the Snouted Night Add

er (Causus defilippii) of southeastern Africa; theSaharan Sand Vipers (Cerastes vipera), the Saw Scaled (Carpet) Viper (Echis Merrem), the Painted Carpet Viper (Echis coloratus), the White-bellied Carpet Viper (Echis leucogaster), the West African Carpet Viper (Echis ocellatus), the Northeast Africa Carpet Viper (Echis pyramidum).

Carpet vipers are very dangerous because they are irascible, have a very virulent venom and often strike repeatedly. 4) OTHERS There are a number of other types of venomous snakes in Africa, though only the following two are seen as potentially mortal to humans (at least to healthy adults): - Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, this beautiful little snake is very hard to see in its tree and bush habitat. Its haemotoxic venom is one of the strongest among African snakes; it causes severe hemorrhaging but bites are rare since it is a shy and non aggressive species. - Bird or Twig Snake (Theolotornis capensis) Occuring in eastern and southern Africa, this extremely thin arboreal snake has a strong haemotoxic venom with similar symptoms to that of the boomslang but which is not neutralized by the boomslang-specific antivenom.

Sources: Branch, Bill, Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa, Struik, Cape Town, 1996 Top 15 Most Venomous Cobras in the World Venomous Snakes of Liberia and West Africa Venomous Snakes of Liberia and West Africa Scientific Name: Dendroaspis polylepis Black Mamba Description & General Information Black mambas are snakes eight to ten feet in length. They are not actually black but more of an olive to a gray color. The 'black' part of the name comes from the color of the inside of the snake's mouth, which is a purple black color. Their belly color is normally gray or light green. Black mambas are native to Africa. Black Mambas are noted for their speed and agility. No doubt, they are one of the fastest snakes; they are not the largest. The largest venomous snake is King Cobra and the most venomous is a species of Sea Krait. They are closely related to the more tree-dwelling Green Mamba, which is just as deadly. Both types of mamas are rear-fanged. Rear-fanged snakes cannot fold their fangs back like rattlesnakes and others.

The fangs are fixed much like those of a Coral Snake; however, the Black Mamba's fangs are located in the rear of the mouth not the front. BLACK MAMBA The fastest land snake in the world is the aggressive black mamba found in the southern part of tropical Africa. You might have heard stories about this snake overtaking people on galloping horses but although these snakes are fast, they aren't that fast. They can reach top speeds of 10-12 mph (16-19 km/h) in short bursts over level ground - good luck trying to outrun one of these snakes if you tick it off! The black mamba is much more terrestrial than the other three species of mamba, but it readily takes to the trees in search of prey and to bask or seek shelter. Despite its name, black mambas aren't black. They're gray. The name comes from the color of the inside of their mouth - something all of them will gladly show you while they threaten you, if provoked. They can grow up to 14 feet (4.3 meters) long, another reason why this reptile isn't something to mess with.

The snake races along with its head held high and about one-third of its body off the ground. That can be up to four feet (1.2 meters) off the ground - about chin level for some people. The black mamba is the most respected and feared snake in Africa. Black Mamba continues..... They are aggressive snakes that spring up to strike so when someone gets bitten, it's usually on the head. Black mambas also go after birds - and they're good at it. One mamba even had a parrot inside its stomach. After biting their prey, black mambas leave it to die. The venom is strong enough to kill prey in a matter of minutes so the snakes don't have to wait long for their meal. Defense Before actually attacking when it feels threatened it will first give a threatening display by lunging at the attacker with gaping jaws, showing off the black/purple coloring of the inside of the mouth. If this attempt to ward of the harasser does not work it will then resort to attempting to bite the attacker. Multiple bites are inflicted quickly. The bite of the black mamba is deadly and will kill a human around 4 hours after receiving the bite. The venom is neurotoxic and cardiotoxic.

If not treated the symptoms are but not limited to: the tightening of the chest muscles, blurred vision, mental confusion, and an overall feeling of great discomfort. Biting and the threat display will only occur if the snake is not able to escape. An example of this would be a snake caught in someone's house with the owner trying to remove it with a broom. Before antivenin was available the bite of a Black Mamba was always fatal. WEST AFRICAN GREEN MAMBA Common Name: West African Green Mamba Scientific Name: Dendroaspis viridis A green and black mamba from the forests of West Africa. ANATOMY Mambas have scales on their bodies. The green in the mamba's body is used to help hide it from its enemies while resting in the trees. The mamba's jaw is adapted for feeding, with the snake's skin being elastic and it being able to dislocate. That is why the mamba can swallow prey up to four times the size of its head. SENSES Smell is detected by the use of mamba's tongue, which picks up vibrations. Vibrations can also be picked up from the ground through the mamba's body.

WEST AFRICAN GREEN MAMBA continues... Non-territorial Mambas rely on abandoned termite mounds and animal holes for shelter. Other areas include sparse brush and rocky areas. The green mamba travels throughout its life alone. Mating occurs in spring after the male finds a female from her scent trail. Copulation can be drawn out to over a couple hours or days. After copulation the female can lay from 10-15 eggs. The eggs are long and thin and range 4-6 centimeters in length and 3-3.5 centimeters in width. Egyptian Cobra Scientific Name: Naja haje Location: North Africa According to legend, Cleopatra asked that an asp, an Egyptian cobra, be delivered to her in a basket of figs. That was the cobra that bit her, causing her death and according to the Egyptians, her immortality. EGYPTIAN COBRA This large and heavy bodied species has the widest range of any African snake.

.The Egyptian cobra is extremely dangerous and responsible for many human deaths The venom of the Egyptian cobra is neurotoxic, that is it destroys nerve tissue, and it is much stronger than that of the common cobra. This venom has been used for many years in medical research because it has an enzyme, lecithinase, that dissolves cell walls and membranes surrounding viruses. When injected into its prey, the venom causes paralysis and death due to respiratory failure, usually within 15 minutes. EGYPTIAN COBRA Continues... The Egyptian cobra can grow to eight feet (2.4 meters) long, although the average length is five to six feet. The head is small and flat with a rounded snout. The body is moderately stout, tapering gradually to a pointed tail. The scales are smooth, large and distinct and colors vary from grayish yellow to brown to almost black. When threatened, the snake raises the front part of its body and spreads its neck into a hood. Dark bars are displayed on the throat and front of the hood, but the back is unmarked. The cobra is almost always portrayed in this most distinctive pose.

The Egyptian cobra is a fast-moving snake and is thought to be very intelligent and relatively docile. A nighttime hunter, it forages mainly for toads, lizards and birds. Forest Cobra Scientific Name: Naja melanoleuca Naja melanoleuca FOREST COBRA A large and highly adaptable cobra found in various habitats throughout its large range. Black Spitting Cobra Common Name: Black Spitting Cobra Scientific Name: Naja nigricollis Naja nigricollis has an extreme geographic range within Africa. The morph we maintain and breed is the black, red bellied with a skin texture of a silky matt finish similar to that of a Boelen's python. It should be understood that these snakes rarely spit. They do have the capability of atomizing venom accurately to a distance of up to 20 feet.

Be advised that these snakes for the most part, exhibit a shy character however will bite unpredictably with grave tissue destructive with neuro effect and in many cases the bite of this animal will require amputation of a limb or death Black Tree Cobra Common Name: Black Tree Cobra also call Hoodless Cobra Scientific Name: Pseudohaje nigra No picture available for the Black Tree Cobra BLACK TREE COBRA These two large and primarily arboreal species are found in the forests of tropical Africa. They have a reputation for being particularly ill-tempered and have an extremely toxic venom. For more information on how to treat snakes bites visit Snake Protocol - Protocols which have been written for potential snakebites to human beings. cobra | snake | Britannica.com Cobra chordate Cobra, any of various species of highly venomous snake s, most of which expand the neck ribs to form a hood. While the hood is characteristic of cobras, not all of them are closely related. Cobras are found from southern Africa through southern Asia to islands of Southeast Asia . Throughout their range, different species are favourites of snake charmers, who frighten them into assuming the upreared defense posture.

The snake sways in response to the movement and perhaps also to the music of the charmer, who knows how to avoid the relatively slow strike and who may have removed the snake’s fangs. The short fangs at the front of the mouth have an enclosed groove, which delivers the venom. Cobra venom generally contains neurotoxins active against the nervous system of prey—primarily small vertebrates and other snakes. Bites, particularly from larger species, can be fatal depending on the amount of venom injected. Neurotoxins affect breathing, and although antivenin is effective, it must be administered soon after the bite. Thousands of deaths occur each year in South and Southeast Asia. Cape cobra (Naja nivea). © Four Oaks/Shutterstock.com Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The world’s largest venomous snake is the king cobra , or hamadryad (Ophiophagus hannah). Found predominantly in forests from India through Southeast Asia to the Philippines and Indonesia, it preys chiefly on other snakes. Maximum confirmed length is 5.6 metres (18 feet), but most do not exceed 3.6 metres (12 feet).

King cobras guard a nest of 20 to 40 eggs, which are laid in a mound of leaves gathered by the female. The guarding parent will strike if a predator or a person approaches too closely. Not all cobras are egg layers. King cobra, the world’s largest venomous snake. © Heiko Kiera/Fotolia bandy-bandy The Asian cobra (Naja naja) was formerly considered a single species with much the same distribution as the king cobra. Recently, however, biologists have discovered that nearly a dozen species exist in Asia, some being venom spitters and others not. They vary both in size (most ranging between 1.25 and 1.75 metres) and in the toxicity of their venom. Spitters propel venom through the fangs by muscular contraction of the venom ducts and by forcing air out of the single lung. A mongoose (Herpestes) attacking an Asian cobra (Naja naja). Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. In Africa there are also spitting and nonspitting cobras, but the African cobras are not related to the Asian cobras, nor are they related to each other.

The ringhals , or spitting cobra (Hemachatus haemachatus), of southern Africa and the black-necked cobra (Naja nigricollis), a small form widely distributed in Africa, are spitters. Venom is accurately directed at the victim’s eyes at distances of more than two metres and may cause temporary, or even permanent, blindness unless promptly washed away. The Egyptian cobra (N. haje)—probably the asp of antiquity—is a dark, narrow-hooded species, about two metres long, that ranges over much of Africa and eastward to Arabia. Its usual prey consists of toads and birds. In equatorial Africa there are tree cobras (genus Pseudohaje), which, along with the mamba s, are the only arboreal members of the family Elapidae . Black-necked cobra (Naja nigricollis) WWW Virtual Library: Sri Lanka's venomous snakes and their habitat Sri Lanka's venomous snakes and their habitat @ The Island By Aryadasa Ratnasinghe According to Sri Lanka National Museum's Manuscript Series (Vol. VIII) and the Sinhala Palm Leaf Manuscripts Medical Vol.

IV (Treatment for snake bites), there are five kinds of venomous snakes in Sri Lanka. They are the Mapila (Cat-snake), the Karawala (Krait), the Naya (Cobra), the Tit-polonga (Russell's viper) and the Kunakatuwa (Humped-nose viper). Mapila For purpose of identity, they have been described as follows: ''The mapila's pupil of the eye is vertical and slit-like, the neck is narrower than the head and the body is usually compressed. The row of scales along the top of the back is enlarged, Mapilas are tree-dwelling snakes of which four species are found in Sri Lanka. Some are light-brown, others are dark-brown or light-red, and they either possess dark cross bars or blotches, or lack such markings. They are venomous. ''The karawala is identified by the enlarged row of scales along the top of its back, and by the third upper lip-scale touching the nasal-scale and the eye. It is black in colour with a series of white rings that disappear with age. They are highly venomous.

Getakaravala ''The naya possesses an expansible hood carrying a spectacles-shaped marking on its upper surface, and the third upper lip-scale, and touches the nasal-scale and the eye. They are highly venomous. They have cylindrical bodies with long tails and smooth scales. Tit polonga ''The head of the tit-polonga is wider than the neck and its top is covered with small scales, the nostril is large, and a large scale exists over each eye. Along the back is a row of 22 to 24 elliptical markings up to above the base of the tail, and a row of fig-shaped lateral blotches. It is highly venomous. ''The kunakatuwa has the front half of the top of the head covered with large scales and possesses a pit between the nostril and the eye, a small bump exists at the tip of its snout. Its markings are irregular blotches either on a brown, pink, grey or yellow background. It is venomous but rarely fatal''. ''These snakes as well as other reptilia belong to the natural order Ophidia. They are characterized by an elongated limbless body possibly evolved because it is advantageous in progression through dense vacation.

One of the most striking internal modifications is the absence or greatly reduced size of the left lung. It is said that there are some 3,000 species of snakes found in the tropics and temperate zones, but none in New Zealand, Ireland, Iceland and near the poles. The skin of the snake is covered with scales which are markedly wider underneath where they form, in all except a few species, an essential aid for movement, e.g., a snake is helpless on glass where these scales can effect no grip on the surface. Its progression may be undulant, concerting or creeping, or a combination. Detailed vision is limited at a distance, though movement is immediately seen. Hearing is restricted to ground vibrations, and sound waves are not perceived as with other animals. The sense of touch is acute. Besides the sense of smell through the nasal passages, the flickering tongue picks up airborne particles which are then passed on to special organs in the mouth for investigation. Some snakes, e.g., the rattlesnakes have a cavity between eye and nostril which is very sensitive to infra-red rays, useful in locating warm-blooded prey in the dark.

All snakes are carnivorous, and often camouflaged for better concealment in hunting as well as their own protection. Some snakes are oviparous and others ovoviviparous (the eggs are retained in the oviducts until development is complete). In both cases the young are immediately self-sufficient. The majority of snakes belong to the family Colubridae. They are chiefly harmless, e.g., the 'garandiya' (rat-snake) which even enters into houses to feed on rats that live on the roofs. Its bite is not venomous but has some toxicity requiring medical attention. According to the native method of treatment for snake bites, the 'sarpa-vederala', who has specialised in the art, makes prognostications by studying the messenger who comes to summon him, his behaviour and costume, and whether the victim will arrive or not. Cure The realm of treatment of the native physician in regard to snake bites is known as 'agada-tantra', which includes medicine, charms, herbal preparations, poultices, fomentation, medicaments, errhines, medicinal oils, 'gulis', 'kalkas' etc.

used to neutralize the effects of venom ingested into the body by venomous reptilia. Their families includes the Elapidae, (the cobra, the coral snakes and the death adder). The Viperidae belongs to the family of vipers. The Hydrophydae are the aquatic sea-snakes. Among the snakes found in Sri Lanka, the most venomous and the most feared is the cobra, popularly known as the 'naya', which is highly respected, sometimes honoured and even worshipped by those who consider cobras with high esteem. If a person were to come across a cobra by accident, he speaks to it nicely to move away from the path, and never attacks it or tries to chase it away. There is a saying that a cobra never bitesa blind man, even if he were to tread upon it by accident. This is said to be a sublime quality of cobras. Cobra belongs to the genus 'Naja' because of its ability to dilate its broad hood. The Indian cobra (Naja Naja tripudians) or cobra de capello, as the Portuguese knew it, attains a length of about seven feet.

The king cobra (Naja hannah bungarus), mostly found in the African wilderness, grows toa length of about fourteen feet, and it is said to be the fiercest and the most aggressive of snakes. It is yellowish-brown or olive in colour, with black crossbands, and feeds on other reptilia. African cobras include the asp (Naja haje) and the black-necked cobra (Naja nigricollis). The cobras, generally, bite during daytime or as dusk falls, and rarely or never by night. As night falls they move into their shelters. During the day, they lie under grass or jungle undergrowth awaiting for prey, and ready to attack at any moment when they are disturbed or harmed. Vipers roam in the dark for prey and go into their hiding places at dawn. This natural instinct is woven into the fabric of folklore to prove that they are antagonistic towards each other. The Sinhala proverb 'Nayayi polongai vage' (Like cobra and wiper) refers to those who hate each other. As vipers move by night, they never meet cobras unless by accident.

Robert Knox Robert Knox, writing in 1681, what he had heard during his stay in the Kandyan kingdom for 20 years, about the folklore, says ''The reason and original of this fatal enmity between these two Serpents, is this according to a Fable among the Chingulays (Sinhalese). These two chanced to meet in a dry season, when water was scarce. The Polonga (viper) being almost famished for thirst, asked the Naya (cobra) where he might go to find a little water. ''The Naya a little before had met with a bowl of water in which a child lay playing. As it is usual among this people to wash their children in a bowl of water, and there leave them to tumble and play in it. Here the Noya quenched his thirst, but as he was drinking, the child that lay in the bowl, out of his innocence and play, hit him on the head with his hand, which the Noya made no matter of, but bare patiently, knowing it was not done out of any malice: and having drunk as much as sufficed him, went away without doing the child any harm.

''Being minded to direct the Polonga to this bowl, but desirous withal to preserve the child, he told him, that he knew of water but that he was such a surely hasty creature, that he was fearful to let him know where it was, lest he might do some mischief; making him therefore promise that he would not, he then told him that at such a place there was a bowl of water with a child playing in it, and that probably the child might, as he was tumbling give him a pat on the Head, as he had done to him before, but charged him nevertheless not to hurt the child, which the Polonga having promised went his way towards the water, as the Noya had directed him. ''The Noya knowing his touchy disposition went after him, fearing he might do the child a mischief, and that thereby he himself might be deprived of the like benefit afterwards. It fell out as he feared. For as the Polonga drank, the child patted him on the head, and he in his hasty humour bit him on the hand and killed him.

The Noya seeing this resolved to be revenged, and so reproaching him for his baseness, fought him so long till he killed him. And after that devoured him, which to this day they ever do, always fight when they meet, and the conqueror eats the body of the vanquished''. This enmity is said to be an everlasting phenomenon between the two. Dr. John Davy, writing in 1821, about snakes says: ''Whilst I was in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), my professional pursuits led me to pay particular attention to the snakes of the island, especially to those whose bite is poisonous. It is the common belief that the country abounds in snakes and that they are very dangerous. All this is greatly exaggerated. I have procured twenty different kinds of snakes and of them, sixteen were harmless, though the majority has the character of being venomous. The four poisonous snakes were all of the coluber kind''. Writing about the cobra, he says ''This coluber naja of Linnaeus, is too well known to require description. The natives in general rather venerate this snake than dread it.

They believe that it belongs to another world, i.e., the nagaloka, and when it appears on earth, it is merely a visitor. Frequent exhibitions are made of this snake by men called 'snake-charmers'. They irritate the snake by striking it, and avoid with great agility the attacks aimed at them and thus play without dread, and with impunity, with danger.'' Common belief The common belief is that the poisonous fangs of the cobras, exhibited by the snake-charmers, have been extracted for purpose of safety. But, Dr. Davy says ''I have examined the snakes, I have seen exhibited, and have found their poisonous fangs in and uninjured. These men do possess a charm, and it is the confidence and courage, acquainted with the habits and disposition of cobras. Any one possessing the confidence and agility of these men may imitate them, and I have made the trial more than once. ''The reputation that many Indian medicines for snake bites have snake-stones still exists.

I have examined them carefully and found them to be pieces of partially burnt bones, some of chalk and some resembled bezoars, consisting chiefly of vegetable matter.'' Bezoars are stony concretions found in the stomachs of goats, antelopes, llamas, chamois, etc., formerly esteemed as an antidote to all poisons. Venom involves multiple toxic reactions in man occurring simultaneously. Accordingly to medical opinion, most viper venoms are vasculotoxic, causing a rapidly swelling of the area around the portal entry of venom. This swelling is presumably due to diffused venom passing through the tissues and affecting vascular permeability. ''Local necrosis in viper bites is mainly ischaemic. The clotting of blood blocks the blood vessels causing dry gangrene, but in cobra bites it causes wet gangrene with a putrid smell''. Among most victims bitten by venomous snakes, shock is believed to be the cause of death, when they become aware that their lives are at stake. This fear is followed by emotional symptoms, such as faintness, stupor, feeble pulse and shallow breathing, which are distinguished from systemic envenoming.

These symptoms appear rapidly within minutes after the bite, whereas systemic poisoning is delayed by one hour or more. However, early collapse is sometimes due to high potency of the venom ingested and not due to fear of death. First signs It has been pointed out that ptosis (drooping of the upper eye-lids) is usually the first sign of a cobra bite. In viper bite poisoning, the earliest sign is blood spit which becomes stained within 15 minutes after the bite. Bleeding from gums and discolouration of blood may follow within 3 hours. Urine becomes discoloured due to the presence of myoglobin and death may occur due to cardiac arrest or renal failure.

According to native clinical pathology pertaining to snake bites the symptoms are: ''discoloration of the body, finger-nails and faeces; pain at the joints; teeth become discoloured; yawns too often, mucous flows from mouth; neck becomes lifeless; body pain develops with a burning sensation; low urine flow; headache, vomiting, redness in eyes; lack of appetite giddiness; hiccough, thirstiness, dryness of mouth, altered voice, constipation; exudations from mouth, eyes and ears, and other symptoms associated with envenoming. Swelling due to cobra bite develops more slowly than viper bite. Public opinion still holds that native treatment is better than western treatment to save victims from the danger of being bitten by venomous reptilia. In most rural areas, the 'sarpa-vederala' has his place as the saviour of mankind bitten by snakes and on the verge of death. ''In western treatment broad spectrum antibiotics are used to minimize the risk of local infection, and antivenom injections are given, diluted with isotonic saline, to inactivate the venom. Specific antivenom is desirable, but if the snake is unknown, polyvalent serum may be given''.

So says Dr. Stamm. asp | snake | Britannica.com snake copperhead Asp, anglicized form of aspis, name used in classical antiquity for a venomous snake , probably the Egyptian cobra , Naja haje. It was the symbol of royalty in Egypt, and its bite was used for the execution of favoured criminals in Greco-Roman times. Cleopatra is said to have killed herself with an asp (see also viper ). Vipera aspis francisciredi. Werner Seiler European aspic vipers (Vipera aspis) of France, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy are often referred to as asps. Adult aspic vipers may reach 50 cm (20 inches) in total length, although most are smaller. They live in a variety of habitats ranging from sea level to high-altitude environments near 2,600 metres (8,500 feet) in the Swiss Alps . These animals prey on small vertebrates and give birth to a litter of 5–16 young.

viper any of more than 200 species of venomous snakes belonging to two groups: pit vipers (subfamily Crotalinae) and Old World vipers (subfamily Viperinae), which are considered separate families by some authorities. They eat small animals and hunt by striking and envenomating their prey. Vipers are... cobra any of various species of highly venomous snake s, most of which expand the neck ribs to form a hood. While the hood is characteristic of cobras, not all of them are closely related. Cobras are found from southern Africa through southern Asia to islands of Southeast Asia. Throughout their range,... Cleopatra (queen of Egypt) 70/69 bce August 30 bce Alexandria Egyptian queen, famous in history and drama as the lover of Julius Caesar and later the wife of Mark Antony. She became queen on the death of her father, Ptolemy XII, in 51 bce and ruled successively with her two brothers Ptolemy XIII (51–47) and Ptolemy...

asp - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) a small, poisonous, European snake, Vipera aspis, of sunny scrubland and mountain slopes from southern France and Spain eastward to Bosnia. Also called the European asp, or asp viper, it is closely related to the adder in the viper family Viperidae. (The name asp is also sometimes applied to the Egyptian cobra, Naja haje). Article Contributors Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context.

(Internet URLs are the best.) Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval. Unfortunately, our editorial approach may not be able to accommodate all contributions. Submit Thank You for Your Contribution! Our editors will review what you've submitted, and if it meets our criteria, we'll add it to the article. Please note that our editors may make some formatting changes or correct spelling or grammatical errors, and may also contact you if any clarifications are needed. Uh Oh There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later. Close Date Published: July 16, 2010 URL: Access Date: January 20, 2017 Share February 5, 2015 at 8:02am The legacy of a snake farmer vanishes with his death . The Ministry... of Forest and Environment decided to keep some of the snakes at the zoo Who knew that Tota Mia’s snake farm, which he had spent most of his life building with much hard work, thinking he would earn enough money to support his family by selling snake poisons and collecting visitors’ tips, would vanish upon his death?

He was really a snake lover and used to wrap poisonous snakes around his neck, stunning people at home and abroad. His farm, located at Chourangi Baza in Thakurgaon’s Haripur upazila, had brought him celebrity status not only in the country but also across the border, as global media eagerly ran reports about his farm. There is a story that some people once came to visit his farm and offered to take him to USA, but he had not agreed for the sake of his love toward his homeland. He had wanted to do something great in his motherland. A swift demise In 2007, snake lover Tota Mia died in his own home from the bite of a cobra which had been wrapped around his neck. At the time of his death, around 5,000 cobras were incubated at his farm. However, within a week of his death, over 100 snakes died from starvation since his family, including his wife Nur Jahan, who was afraid of the snakes, did not know how to nurture the cobras. When the shocking news of the death of so many snakes went viral, it created a sensation among snake experts and environmentalists across the country.

The Ministry of Forest and Environment decided to keep some of the snakes at the zoo and cull the rest. It also decided to keep some snakes at the farm. Welcoming the move, experts urged the government to keep the snakes in a congenial environment. Environmentalists, however, opposed the move saying that wild life habitats in the country would be destroyed if such a farm was approved. They had called on the government to not allow any such wildlife farms to exist. A forgotten farm A week after Tota Mia’s death, his eldest son drowned in a pond, leaving behind his mother, brother and sister. This correspondent recently went to visit Tota Mia’s farm and family, but found only a tin-shed house, a kitchen and an empty-snake farm. His wife, Nur Jahan, had taken their remaining two children and left home three months ago. Julekha Begum, a neigbour, told the Dhaka Tribune that Nur Jahan had been working hard to make ends meet ever since Tota Mia died seven years ago. She had even begged for alms for a while. Now only the homestead bears witness to Tota Mia’s legacy. See More

Question: Which venomous snake is able to dilate its neck into a hood?
Answer: Cobra