Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just picked up this juvenile female today at the aiport. She is an interesting little snake. Very peculiar, and certainly not very cobra-like in actions (the "venomous hognose" remark I read about them not too long ago applies pretty well). For one, she tends to lift her body up about halfway off the ground, instead of just a third. Also, she doesn't hold a hood much and the hood is "different" from most cobras (hard to explain unless you watch it). But boy can she spit! I've read that rinkhals have the most developed fangs of any spitting elapid, and I certainly believe it now. She is dead on accurate and doesn't seem to run out of venom very easily. As you can see, she's going opaque now, so I'm interested to see what she will look like when she comes out of it. Anyway, thanks for reading. Oh, by the way, sorry for being so lazy about the pics, but I didn't feel like trying to figure out the new image posting system.
-Chance

http://rvsnakes.garbersoft.net/rinkhal1.jpg
http://rvsnakes.garbersoft.net/rinkhal2.jpg
http://rvsnakes.garbersoft.net/rinkhal3.jpg

Neat snakes. I've always liked them. Sneaky, too. I've seen 'em "spit" from the "dead" position.

~~Greg~~

>>Neat snakes. I've always liked them. Sneaky, too. I've seen 'em "spit" from the "dead" position.
>>
>> ~~Greg~~

Greg,

They are definitely neat snakes. Very asimilar to my other true cobras. I've yet to tick her off enough to want to play dead, and hope to never actually see that because I don't want to put that much stress on her. I have heard, however, that they can come flying up out of the dead position and make a good attempt to bite. Guess your best bet is just to not take them for granted at that point eh?
-Chance

I have had several and they all seem to be from one extreme to the other. Some are viscious and don't get tired of trying to get you, others are so laid back that I have never seen them spit,try to bite, or even hood. I think the coolest thing is when a really viscious one eats, they will grab the rat and do a "death roll", probably one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I like the variation in color, Some are tiger striped,black,silver,orangish with a black hood, or black and white. If anyone has pictures of different color phases, I would love to see them also. Well,enjoy your cobra.
Later,
KEvin