The red spitting cobra (Naja pallida ) is a species of spitting cobra native to Africa.
The Red spitting cobra is a medium-sized species of spitting cobra native to Africa. This attractive snake is usually bright salmon-red in color contrasted with a broad black throat band and subocular teardrop markings. However, the color of Red spitting snakes usually varies depending on where in Africa they are found. For example, individuals from southern Kenya and northern Tanzania have an orange-red color, with a broad, dark blue, or black throat band. Some specimens may have two or three throat bands, but this is uncommon for specimens from East Africa. The ventral side is also reddish in color, sometimes the throat area may be a creamy white. Red spitting cobras from other areas can be yellow, pinkish, pink-grey, pale red, or steel grey. Most specimens will have a throat band, but it will fade or even sometimes disappear in larger adults. The true red specimens will become reddish-brown in color as they age and grow in size.
Red spitting cobras are mainly found in East Africa, including Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, southern Egypt, northern and eastern Ethiopia, northern Tanzania, and northern Sudan. They are also widespread in eastern and northern Kenya. These cobras prefer to live in dry savanna and semidesert areas of East Africa and are usually found near water holes.
Red spitting cobras are terrestrial, fast, and alert snakes. Adults are nocturnal, while juveniles are more active during the day. During the day adults like to hide in termite mounds, old logs, holes, brush piles, or any other ground cover. They are also known to be cannibalistic which could be the reason juveniles and smaller specimens are diurnal, while adults are nocturnal. Red spitting cobras are solitary and interact with each other only during the mating season or disputes for mating rights or for current territory. These snakes are not territorial but they will defend the area they are in at the moment. When threatened, Red spitting cobras rear up and display a typical cobra hood. They may also hiss loudly. If the intruder does not retreat, the cobra may spray jets of venom to the face of the intruder. Venom in the eyes can cause burning pain and blindness. Even so, this snake seldom causes fatalities in humans.
The venom of this species, like most spitting cobras, contains a mixture of neurotoxins and cytotoxins. Bite symptoms include slight pain around the wound and numbness of the lips, fingers and tongue. Although it rarely causes human fatalities, survivors are usually disfigured. The murine IP LD50 value for this snake is 2 mg/kg.
In September 2011, a snake keeper from the Eastern Cape in South Africa died shortly after a red spitting cobra sprayed venom into his face while he and a friend were photographing the snake. Some of the venom was believed to have entered his nasal passages and led to anaphylactic shock. His asthma is believed to have contributed to the fatal reaction. An autopsy done on him by the eastern cape provincial pathologist revealed no biting or damage either in his nasal cavities, throat or lungs.
Red spitting cobras are carnivores and have a wide range of prey, but they prefer amphibians such as toads and frogs if they are available. Their diet also includes rodents, birds, and probably other snakes. These cobras are also known to raid chickens in the region.
Red spitting cobras are polygynandrous (promiscuous) meaning that both the males and females have multiple partners. They usually mate from mid-spring and until early summer. The female lays 6 to 21 eggs and the incubation period lasts for 80-120 days. Red spitting cobras don't guard their clutches and don't provide parental care to their young. Baby spitting cobras hatch precocial (fully-developed) and are completely independent. They become reproductively mature between 2 and 3 years of age.
There are no major threats to the Red spitting cobra at present.
Presently, the Red spitting cobra is not included in the IUCN Red List and its conservation status has not been evaluated.
Red spitting cobras are top predators within their ecosystem and help control populations of their prey items such as amphibians, small rodents, and birds.
