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 Post subject: Snake: Snouted Cobra
Unread postPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 7:06 pm 
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Hi all

I am staying approx 30 km north of Pretoria on a plot in the Rooibosveld/savanna region and has now twice seen a snake that I am not able to identify. The snake is approximately 1.7-2m in length and about 7+ cm thick from about 30 cm from the head to about 30-40 cm's from the tail. The head is ovalish in shape (not angular like a python's) and is about the same thickness as the neck. The neck is about 5cm in thickness.

Distinguishing features are the neck area has a definite gloss to it and is very slight olive green to grey in colour - almost similar to a spitting cobra (which we see quite often around here...) but in their case it is the whole body that has that olive/brown tint. The rest of the body is slate to black in colour and has no sheen/gloss and seems to be almost rough in texture. The underside is whitish/ivory in colour.

I have no idea.... Any suggestions what I might search for to compare pictures to what I have here?

Thank you


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery snake
Unread postPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 7:17 pm 
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Molesnake? The colours vary considerably, and they grow to that size.

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 Post subject: Digging Beauty
Unread postPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:34 pm 
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I photographed a beautiful snake on my property just before winter while it was busy digging a hole very close to my house. Length was in excess of 1.6 metres and thickness approximately 5cm. (The wire mesh is 50x50 mm for comparison). I stay in the Rooibosveld 30 kms north of Pretoria.

I saw it a couple of times but it eventually disappeared due to lots of movement around the house, dogs etc.

Can anybody help with a positive ID?

Thanx for the help to get pics on here ... :D

Image
Image
Image


Last edited by LourensJB on Wed Nov 05, 2008 4:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Digging Beauty
Unread postPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:16 pm 
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Senior Virtual Ranger
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To post pictures you need to host them on another site and then link them form there.

Here is instructions to do it through Tinypick

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 Post subject: Re: Mystery snake
Unread postPosted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 2:41 pm 
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LourensJB wrote:
I have no idea.... Any suggestions what I might search for to compare pictures to what I have here?


Try to get a picture, it will be way easier :)

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 Post subject: Re: Mystery snake
Unread postPosted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 5:37 pm 
Hi Lourens

I’m no expert, but my guess is Snouted Cobra (previously known as Egyptian Cobra).


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery snake
Unread postPosted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:32 pm 
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Very nice Snouted Cobra that is!!! :D

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 Post subject: Re: Mystery snake
Unread postPosted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:45 am 
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Thank you for the ID... I am just surprised at the size of the snake. We previously found Egyptian Cobras around here but they were much smaller and also grey in colour - OK as of now I am totally getting respect for the challenges of identifying snakes and therefore also doubting my presumption of the previous ones having been Snouted (Egyptian) Cobras. The variations are simply enormous.


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery snake
Unread postPosted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:13 am 
The Snouted Cobra is one of the largest cobras in Africa…average size 1.8m (but can get up to 2.5m)
There are quite a few colour variations (including dark brown and blue-black) so those you have seen might have also been Snouted Cobras.
I have only once seen a Snouted Cobra…it was in Kruger and it was the “banded phase”…amazing snake!


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery snake
Unread postPosted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:18 pm 
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Jumbo, very lucky to have seen that banded phase :D Having a passion for snakes, I go looking for them.....I'v seen numerous species of snakes, and many Snouties, but one thing I have always wanted to photograph, is a Banded Pghase specimen!!! :twisted: Im very jealous!!

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 Post subject: Re: Mystery snake
Unread postPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:24 pm 
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LourensJB those are quite incredible photos...... Beutiful snake that! If I am correct then I belive the snouted Cobra doesn't spit! Making it much less dangerous than a Mfezi....! I found a Mfezi on the weekend in a gorge near Mooi nooi ! Was suprized to find one that far west! Thought it was a Snouted Cobra but Bush Snake confirmed for me...... :roll: :sniper:

Close call.......

You wouldn't perhaps have Chickens on your plot hey? Know that the Cobras love chicken coups for unknown reasons..... perhaps after rats or something? :huh:

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 Post subject: Re: Mystery snake
Unread postPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:27 pm 
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Ferdelance wrote:
If I am correct then I belive the snouted Cobra doesn't spit! Making it much less dangerous than a Mfezi....!


You are correct, also less aggressive ...
:thumbs_up:

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 Post subject: Re: Snakes: Mozambique Spitting Cobra
Unread postPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:29 am 
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We came across three beautiful specimens during our September 2010 visit.

The first one about one kilometer from the main entrance to the Shingwedzi Rest camp, the second near Red Rocks on the S52 and the third one late afternoon near the S35 a monster, I know books give them as as max 1.5 meters but this was a real biggy much longer that the width of my IZUZU 3 litre DC, unfortunately it would not pose for a photograph.

Unfortunately the photographs are not action shots but they do give an indication of what we spotted

Image

Image

Image

Image

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 Post subject: Re: Snakes: Mozambique Spitting Cobra
Unread postPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 3:15 pm 
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Hi

Gmlsmit, the snake on the photos is not a Mozambique Spitting Cobra. It is a Snouted cobra (Naja annulifera). On the last photo, the golden / copper yellow colour can be clearly seen.


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 Post subject: Re: Snakes: Mozambique Spitting Cobra
Unread postPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:54 am 
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These snakes were all well in excess of 1.8 metres in length.

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Done 141 visits to National Parks.
What a wonderful privilege.


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