The Mozambique Spitting Cobra

The Mozambique Spitting Cobra

(Naja mossambica) is a type of cobra, native to Africa. In color the snake is slate to olive grey, olive or tawny brown above, with some or all scales black-edging. Below, salmon pink to purple yellowish, with black bars across the neck and ventral speckled or edged with brown or black; young specimens sometimes have pink or yellow bars on the throat.

It is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa, second only to the Mamba. Like the Rinkhals, it can spit its venom. Its bite causes severe local tissue destruction (similar to that of the puff adder). Venom to the eyes can also cause impaired vision or blindness.
This snake is a nervous and highly strung snake. When confronted at close quarters this snake can rear up to as much as two-thirds of its length, spread its long narrow hood and will readily “spit” in defense, usually from a reared-up position. By doing this the venom can be ejected at a distance of 2-3 meters (5½ – 8¼ feet), with remarkable accuracy. The spitting cobra does not often actually bite despite its aggressive behavior, and also shares the same habit of feigning death to avoid further molestation.
The average length of adults is between 900mm – 1,050mm (2½-3 feet), but largest specimen actually measured was a male 1,442mm (4 feet) long. (Trelawney, Zimbabwe)
When in a confined area like a tube the reptile will bite instead of spit. This is due to its aggressiveness.