Genus/Species
Clinical entries
Species
- 1. Hemachatus haemachatus
- 2. Hemachatus nyangensis
With the help of the ancient DNA analysis technique it has been recently possible to investigate the highly degraded DNA of Museum specimens which were fixated in formalin. The isolated population of the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe (Nyanga district, Maincaland) has been decribed as the new Rinkhals species Hemachatus nyangensis (Major et al. 2023). The last specimens were collected until 1980 and H. nyangensis seems to be 'potentially extinct' in these days.
Taxonomy
Common names
- 1. Ring-necked spitting cobra, Rinkhals, Südafrikanische Speikobra, Ringhalskobra
- 2. Nyanga rinkhals
Distribution
South Africa. Isolated population in the extreme east of Zimbabwe. See link "Distribution" at the top of the page for detailed information.
Map 26 Hemachatus haemachatus. The isolated population shown in Zimbabwe has recently been described as the new species Hemachatus nyangensis, which seems to be extinct however.
Biology
Appearance similar to that of the true cobras (Naja spp.). If threatened, it also raises the front part of its body and spreads the ribs in its neck to form a hood. As with African and Asian spitting cobras, H. haemachatus can spray venom over quite a distance as a means of defence (caution – eye contact!). If it is unable to retreat, it gives a very convincing show of being dead, only to strike rapidly at the right moment.
Basic colouring dark, sometimes with speckled or faint bands. When it flattens its neck to form a hood, white and black bands become visible ventrally, as with Naja melanoleuca or Naja annulifera. Length 1 m, rarely above 1.2 m. Very prevalent in some areas. Chiefly diurnal. Lives in dry habitats, from flat coastal areas to up to 2,500 m above sea level in mountain areas.
Risk
In one study over a period of 10 years in Johannesburg, 8/39 taxonomically identified snakebites were caused by H. haemachatus. None of the patients showed serious local or systemic symptoms (Rippey et al. 1976).
Literature (biological)
Broadley 1983, Broadley and Cock 1989, Visser and Chapman 1978, O'Shea 2005