The
Cape Cobra (
Naja nivea) is a moderately sized
cobraA cobra is a venomous snake, which is a member of the family Elapidae . The name is short for cobra de capelo , which is Portuguese for "snake with hood," or "hood-snake." When disturbed, most of these snakes can rear up and spread their neck in a characteristic threat display...
inhabiting the arid regions of
Southern AfricaSouthern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
. It averages 4 feet (120 cm) long but may grow to be 6 feet (180 cm) long. The color varies from location to location, and those from the
KalahariThe Kalahari Desert is a large arid to semi-arid sandy area in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari Desert is the southern part of Africa, and the geography...
are normally bright uniform yellow or yellow with brown speckles uniformly all over the body.
This snake is diurnal: it is primarily active during the day and early evening.
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The
Cape Cobra (
Naja nivea) is a moderately sized
cobraA cobra is a venomous snake, which is a member of the family Elapidae . The name is short for cobra de capelo , which is Portuguese for "snake with hood," or "hood-snake." When disturbed, most of these snakes can rear up and spread their neck in a characteristic threat display...
inhabiting the arid regions of
Southern AfricaSouthern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
. It averages 4 feet (120 cm) long but may grow to be 6 feet (180 cm) long. The color varies from location to location, and those from the
KalahariThe Kalahari Desert is a large arid to semi-arid sandy area in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari Desert is the southern part of Africa, and the geography...
are normally bright uniform yellow or yellow with brown speckles uniformly all over the body.
This snake is diurnal: it is primarily active during the day and early evening. It feeds on a wide spectrum of prey, including other snakes, and tends to climb low trees and raid weaver bird colonies. It is also attracted to
rodentRodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s.
A nervous snake, it produces a powerful
neurotoxinA neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells , usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels.Some sources are more general, and define the effect of neurotoxins as occurring at nerve tissue...
that affects the
respiratory systemThe respiratory systems function is to allow gas exchange to all parts of the body. The space between the alveoli & the capillaries, the anatomy or structure of the exchange system, and the precise physiological uses of the exchanged gases vary depending on the organism...
. Without proper antivenom treatment the mortality rate in humans is 60% and death normally occurs 2–5 hours after being bitten and is usually as a result of respiratory failure due to the onset of paralysis. The snake is quick to strike and becomes aggressive if cornered, but given its space it is likely to retreat. Its main predators are various species of
raptorBirds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as any bird that kills its prey with its talons. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh. In most cases,...
s inhabiting the area and the honey badger or
ratelThe honey badger is a member of the Mustelidae family. The honey badger is distributed throughout most of Africa and western and south Asian areas of Baluchistan , southern Iraq, Pakistan and Rajasthan . It is the only species in the genus Mellivora and the subfamily Mellivorinae...
.
The female lays 8-20 large eggs (60 x 30 mm) in a burrow.
The Cape Cobra is also known as the "geelslang" (yellow snake) and "bruinkapel" (brown cobra).
Afrikaans speaking South Africans refer to the Cape Cobra as "koperkapel", mainly due to a rich yellow colour variation. It has the most potent venom of all African cobras.