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Scientific Name:     Naja mossambica 

The species is also known as M’fezi, Mosambiekse spoegco br a. It is a dangerous species and is unusual for Elapids in that it is potently cytotoxic / cell destroying. Bites are very common in the natal midlands and often pose severe problems with the rural communities. The species is predominantly nocturnal but will often move about after rains. They are egg laying or oviparous having upto 20 eggs.

Similar to the Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) they also prefer savannah regions.

Description:

Each scale has dark edge to an olive-brown, grey brown to slate grey in colouration. The ventral scales are yellow to pink and when hooded partial or irregular black bands are present.

They spit their venom from nearly any position. Unlike the Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) they do not need to spit from a hooded position. They briefly open the lips and spit. They have copious amounts of venom and spitting is their main defence. Even when cornered they rarely spread a hood for any length of time. They briefly hood and then retreat often spitting at the same time. Bites require hospitalisation and the average yield is around 200-300mg per bite. It is not as potent as other cobra’s but 30-40mg is considered fatal. Skin grafts are common from these bites.

Typical of cobras the diet is very broad, including snakes, lizards, frogs, rodent and other small mammals.

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Last modified: September 01, 2004