Reptile & Amphibian Forums

what would happen if you where to be spit in the face by one of these?, could it cause perminent blindness? and is it the actual venom they spit?, thanks in advance
themntl1

There is always a possibility of permanent injury from venom hitting one's eyes. It really comes down to how quickly you get it rinsed out and how your particular eyes react to it. N. pallida is one of the more milder of the spitter Najas, so I would imagine (note I say imagine) that the sensation when entering your eyes would be less than say, a nigricollis. However, since I haven't been spat on by any spitter, I can't give relative comparisons with any real accuracy. Best bet is to just never let the animal have any opportunity to nail you. My 1.1 '02 nigricollis are still small, only around 2.5' or so right now, but I never work with them without having goggles on. I hardly ever seen them spread a hood and very, very rarely see them spit any more, however occasionally I'll surprise one when I walk into the snake room and it'll do both (by the way, spitters don't have to be "hooding" to spit). So like I said, the best bet is to always be on guard for it. Even a juvenile can probably cause some real problems if it managed to get you.

As to the spitting action of spitting cobras, yes it is venom, and all or at least mostly venom. True spitters, those that have evolved with the openings of the fangs pointed forward, will simply barely open their mouths and use fluid pressure and muscular contractions to force the venom out. They don't use any respiration to assist the spitting process, as it would only hinder it. Venom usually shoots out of both fangs, and upon exiting the two jets very quickly cross paths so as to amplify the velocity. This makes for a very powerful jet stream of venom that is remarkably accurate. I know that whenever I surprise my nigricollis enough to actually use it, the spray across the glass is right where it would have smacked me in the face. I had a mossambica earlier this year that did manage to spray me in the face, however his aim was off and it only went across my (closed) lips and a little onto the goggle. I wouldn't give that handicap to a nigricollis.

The last thing I'll comment on are the "not-so-true spitting" spitting cobras. Spitting has been recorded in kaouthia, atra, and I personally have witnessed a melanoleuca of mine eject what was probably a mixture of saliva and venom across the floor, though it didn't get much projection. Atra may be a little more advanced toward spitting than the other two I've mentioned, but with kaouthia and maybe even melanoleuca, probably what happens is that the snakes just get themselves so worked up that they contract the muscles around the venom glands a little and hiss. If this is combined with a lunge forward, one can easily make the jump that the venom and saliva that has now pooled in the snakes mouth will be launched forward. I've yet to see any of my kaouthia do that, but when the melanoleuca I had did it, it seemed to do just as I described. That snakes was incredibly high strung and would try to bite anything, including herself if she saw her body move, the shadow she created on the floor, the hook, tongs, etc. Whenever she would be tubed, she would liberally try to use her venom on the tube and I could watch it roll down the inside. The time she "spit" at me, it was one of her usual episodes of terror and when she lunged forward, a liquid came out and hit her hidebox and the ground in front of her. Not very accurate, but still something to keep in mind with either malanoleuca or kaouthia, as I'm sure getting that in your eyes would not feel very good.

Anyway, I hope this sort of helps explain how spitters operate a little more better to you. You'll have to excuse my long-winded hands, but when I get to typing about a subject I love, I find it hard to stop. Don't be afraid to ask away if you have any more questions.
River Valley Snakes

hey , i thank you for your info i was not 100% on this subject so i ask , as for the long response i do not mind, i do not have any cobra's at this time just some rhino vipers and a copperhead, but i am concidering on one just wich one i am not to shure of yet, i am intersted in the one on question , a monacled, or a coral i need to do a little more research on these before i decide, but thanks again for all your info and have a safe and happy holiday season, themntl1

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