Botswana Has Fifty Eight Different Types of Snakes

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Botswana Has Fifty Eight Different Types of Snakes DANGEROUS SNAKES OF B OT SWA NA Botswana has fifty eight different types of snakes. Twenty two species are not venomous, while seven can inflict rather painful bites. Nine VERY DANGEROUS species are considered potentially deadly. DANGEROUS Has caused Painful bite, but does human fatalities not require antivenom VERY VERY VERY VERY DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS Black Mamba Black Mamba Snouted Cobra Snouted Cobra - banded phase (Dendroaspis polylepis) (Dendroaspis polylepis) (Naja annulifera) (Naja annulifera) VERY VERY VERY VERY DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS Anchieta’s Cobra Cape Cobra Cape Cobra Cape Cobra - juvenile (Naja anchietae) (Naja nivea) (Naja nivea) (Naja nivea) Photo Marius Burger VERY VERY VERY VERY DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS Mozambique Spitting Cobra Common Boomslang - male Common Boomslang - female Common Boomslang - juvenile (Naja mossambica) (Dispholidus typus viridis) (Dispholidus typus viridis) Photo André Coetzer (Dispholidus typus viridis) VERY VERY DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS Southern Twig Snake Puff Adder Horned Adder Bibron’s Stiletto Snake (Thelotornis capensis capensis) (Bitis arietans arietans) (Bitis caudalis) (Atractaspis bibronii) Photo Warren Dick © Johan Marais African Snakebite Institute Snakebite African © Johan Marais JOHAN MARAIS is the author of various books on reptiles including the best-seller A Complete Guide to Snakes of Southern Africa. He is a popular public speaker and offers a variety of courses including Snake Awareness, Scorpion Awareness EMERGENCY PROTOCOL and Venomous Snake Handling. Johan is accredited by the International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS) and is a IN THE EVENT OF A SNAKE BITE Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and DO NOT ww Travel Doctor-approved service provider. His courses are 1 Keep the victim calm, immobilized and ... apply a tourniquet. also accredited by the Health Professions Council of ... cut and suck the wound. transport the victim to the closest South Africa (HPCSA). ... use ice or very hot water. hospital without delay. ... give the victim alcohol. ... apply electric shock. 2 If the victim stops breathing, resort to ... inject antivenom randomly. artificial respiration or make use of a Antivenom (if required) must Johan Marais | African Snakebite Institute Bag Valve Mask. be administered by a doctor +27 82 494 2039 | [email protected] 3 Call the Poison Information Centre help- in a hospital environment. www.AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE.com line for further advice: 0861 555 777..
Recommended publications
  • SINGITA SABI SAND, SOUTH AFRICA for the Month of December, Two Thousand and Fifteen
    WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA SABI SAND, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of December, Two Thousand and Fifteen Temperature Rainfall Recorded Sunrise & Sunset Average minimum: 22˚C (71.6˚F) For the month: 36 mm Sunrise 05:05 Average maximum: 34.2˚C (93.6˚F) For the year to date: 286 mm Sunset 18:46 Minimum recorded: 18◦C (64.4˚F) For the season to date: 173.2 mm Maximum recorded: 41˚C (105.8˚F) With a maximum record of 41˚C, the vegetation has been scorched by the hot conditions. Fortunately with the light rain that we did receive it’s allowed some of the flowering plants to blossom. Here's a highlights package of the month's sightings: Hyenas: It's such a joy when hyena cubs are about - they're curios and like to investigate everything around them. Lions: Lion sightings currently could not get any better! Two male lions of the Matimba coalition have been sighted on a few occasions, and they are gradually expanding their current territorial zone north of the river. The Mhangene pride continue to dominate the central area of Singita Sabi Sand. We watched a few interactions between the Majingalane male lions and the sub-adult males of the Mhangene pride that resulted in the young males being dispersed from the pride temporarily. One of the lionesses from the Mhangene pride has been seen with prominent suckle marks indicating that she has given birth. The lionesses has been seen moving in front of the lodges during the early morning and we suspect that the cubs are hidden in the river just east of Boulders Lodge.
    [Show full text]
  • Dendroaspis Viridis
    Dendroaspis viridis The western green mamba (Dendroaspis viridis), also known as the West African green mamba or Hallowell's green mamba, is a long, thin, and highly venomous snake of the mamba genus, Dendroaspis. This species was first described in 1844 by the American herpetologist Edward Hallowell. The western green mamba is a fairly large and predominantly arboreal species, capable of navigating through trees swiftly and gracefully. It will also descend to ground level to pursue prey such as rodents and other small mammals. The western green mamba is a very alert, nervous, and extremely agile snake that lives mainly in the coastal tropical rainforest, thicket, Scientific Classification and woodland regions of western Africa. Like all the other mambas, the western green mamba is a highly venomous elapid species. Its Kingdom: Anamalia venom is a highly potent mixture of rapid-acting presynaptic and Phylum: Cordata postsynaptic neurotoxins (dendrotoxins), cardiotoxins and fasciculins. Class: Reptilia Some consider this species to not be a particularly aggressive snake, Order: Squamata but others have suggested that they are extremely nervous and are Suborder: Serpentes prone to attack aggressively when cornered. Conflict with humans is Family: Elapidae low compared to some other species found in the region. Bites to Geunus Dendroaspis people by this species are quite uncommon. Their mortality rate, Species D.Viridis however, is high; many of the recorded bites have been fatal. Rapid progression of severe, life-threatening symptoms are hallmarks of Binomial Name mamba bites. Bites with envenomation can be rapidly fatal. Dendroaspis viridis (Hallowell, 1844)[2] Taxonomy Dendroaspis viridis was first described by the American herpetologist and physician Edward Hallowell in 1844.[2][5] In addition to being called the western green mamba, this species is also commonly known as [6] the West African green mamba or Hallowell's green mamba.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Notes from Africa
    Field Notes from Africa by Geoff Hammerson, November 2012 Africa! Few place names are evocative on so many levels and for such diverse reasons. Africa hosts Earth’s most spectacular megafauna, and the southern part of the continent, though temperate rather than tropical, has an extraordinarily rich and unique flora. Africa is the “cradle of humankind” and home to our closest living primate relatives. Indigenous peoples in arid southern Africa have learned to live in one of Earth’s most extreme environments. For early sea-going explorers, Africa was both an obstacle and a port of call, and later the continent proved to be a treasure-trove of diamonds, gold, and other natural resources. Sadly, Africa is also a land of human starvation, deadly disease, and genocide, and grotesque slaughter of wildlife to satisfy the superstitions and greed of people on other continents. It was a target for slave traders and a prize for imperialists. Until as recently as 1994, South Africa was a nation where basic human rights and opportunities were Our experience was greatly enhanced by the truly apportioned according to the melanin content of exceptional quality and efforts of our South African one’s skin. Africa’s exploitative and racist history guide, Patrick Cardwell, who was frequently and has made it a cauldron of political and social superbly assisted behind the scenes by Marie- turmoil. Given this mixture of alluring and Louise Cardwell. Patrick’s knowledge and repugnant characteristics, many potential visitors experience repeatedly put us in the right place at to Africa first pause and carefully consider the just the right time.
    [Show full text]
  • Addo Elephant National Park Reptiles Species List
    Addo Elephant National Park Reptiles Species List Common Name Scientific Name Status Snakes Cape cobra Naja nivea Puffadder Bitis arietans Albany adder Bitis albanica very rare Night adder Causes rhombeatus Bergadder Bitis atropos Horned adder Bitis cornuta Boomslang Dispholidus typus Rinkhals Hemachatus hemachatus Herald/Red-lipped snake Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia Olive house snake Lamprophis inornatus Night snake Lamprophis aurora Brown house snake Lamprophis fuliginosus fuliginosus Speckled house snake Homoroselaps lacteus Wolf snake Lycophidion capense Spotted harlequin snake Philothamnus semivariegatus Speckled bush snake Bitis atropos Green water snake Philothamnus hoplogaster Natal green watersnake Philothamnus natalensis occidentalis Shovel-nosed snake Prosymna sundevalli Mole snake Pseudapsis cana Slugeater Duberria lutrix lutrix Common eggeater Dasypeltis scabra scabra Dappled sandsnake Psammophis notosticus Crossmarked sandsnake Psammophis crucifer Black-bellied watersnake Lycodonomorphus laevissimus Common/Red-bellied watersnake Lycodonomorphus rufulus Tortoises/terrapins Angulate tortoise Chersina angulata Leopard tortoise Geochelone pardalis Green parrot-beaked tortoise Homopus areolatus Marsh/Helmeted terrapin Pelomedusa subrufa Tent tortoise Psammobates tentorius Lizards/geckoes/skinks Rock Monitor Lizard/Leguaan Varanus niloticus niloticus Water Monitor Lizard/Leguaan Varanus exanthematicus albigularis Tasman's Girdled Lizard Cordylus tasmani Cape Girdled Lizard Cordylus cordylus Southern Rock Agama Agama atra Burrowing
    [Show full text]
  • Meerkat Survival Audience Activity Designed for 8 Years Old and Up
    Meerkat Survival Audience Activity designed for 8 years old and up. You need at least two people to play. Goal Students will appreciate the important role that meerkats play within their ecosystem as well as gain a better understanding of the predator/prey relationship. Objective • To learn predator/prey relationship. • To understand the important role a meerkat serves. Conservation Message Meerkats are an important part of the ecosystem and can also help shape habitats. They create burrows that act as underground tunnel systems. Once the meerkats move on, they are used as homes for small rodents and reptiles. Meerkats are also import prey species for predators in deserts and savannas of Africa. Background Information Meerkats are native to desert habitats in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. These animals live in large communities and abide by the idea that there is safety in numbers. They will often assign a community member, or sometimes multiples members, as a lookout, called the sentinel. The sentinel is looking out for predators such as jackals and eagles. Occasionally meerkats will have a run in with venomous snakes such as the Cape Cobra. When the sentinel sees a potential danger, they will let out a sharp very high-pitched call to warn others to take cover and hide. While there are a few guarding the community, other meerkats will forage for foods and are good hunters that work together to catch rodents, insects and small reptiles. Materials Needed • 10 cups • Small light-weight ball such as ping pong ball • Pen/pencil/marker • Counters (buttons, pennies, beans, etc.) • Sticky Notes or Small Pieces of Paper with tape on back • Scenario Cards Length of Activity 40 minutes Procedure • Read the background information and gather the necessary materials.
    [Show full text]
  • Cobra Risk Assessment
    Invasive animal risk assessment Biosecurity Queensland Agriculture Fisheries and Department of Cobra (all species) Steve Csurhes and Paul Fisher First published 2010 Updated 2016 Pest animal risk assessment © State of Queensland, 2016. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. Note: Some content in this publication may have different licence terms as indicated. For more information on this licence visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0/au/deed.en" http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en Photo: Image from Wikimedia Commons (this image is reproduced under the terms of a GNU Free Documentation License) Invasive animal risk assessment: Cobra 2 Contents Summary 4 Introduction 5 Identity and taxonomy 5 Taxonomy 3 Description 5 Diet 5 Reproduction 6 Predators and diseases 6 Origin and distribution 7 Status in Australia and Queensland 8 Preferred habitat 9 History as a pest elsewhere 9 Uses 9 Pest potential in Queensland 10 Climate match 10 Habitat suitability 10 Broad natural geographic range 11 Generalist diet 11 Venom production 11 Disease 11 Numerical risk analysis 11 References 12 Attachment 1 13 Invasive animal risk assessment: Cobra 3 Summary The common name ‘cobra’ applies to 30 species in 7 genera within the family Elapidae, all of which can produce a hood when threatened. All cobra species are venomous. As a group, cobras have an extensive distribution over large parts of Africa, Asia, Malaysia and Indonesia.
    [Show full text]
  • The Medical Threat of Mamba Envenoming in Sub-Saharan Africa
    Downloaded from orbit.dtu.dk on: Oct 06, 2021 The medical threat of mamba envenoming in sub-Saharan Africa revealed by genus- wide analysis of venom composition, toxicity and antivenomics profiling of available antivenoms Ainsworth, Stuart; Petras, Daniel; Engmark, Mikael; Süssmuth, Roderich D.; Whiteley, Gareth; Albulescu, Laura-Oana; Kazandjian, Taline D.; Wagstaff, Simon C.; Rowley, Paul; Wüster, Wolfgang Total number of authors: 16 Published in: Journal of Proteomics Link to article, DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2017.08.016 Publication date: 2018 Document Version Peer reviewed version Link back to DTU Orbit Citation (APA): Ainsworth, S., Petras, D., Engmark, M., Süssmuth, R. D., Whiteley, G., Albulescu, L-O., Kazandjian, T. D., Wagstaff, S. C., Rowley, P., Wüster, W., Dorrestein, P. C., Arias, A. S., M. Gutierrez, J., Harrison, R., Casewell, N. R., & Calvete, J. J. (2018). The medical threat of mamba envenoming in sub-Saharan Africa revealed by genus-wide analysis of venom composition, toxicity and antivenomics profiling of available antivenoms. Journal of Proteomics, 172, 173-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2017.08.016 General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.
    [Show full text]
  • Quantitative Characterization of the Hemorrhagic, Necrotic, Coagulation
    Hindawi Journal of Toxicology Volume 2018, Article ID 6940798, 8 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6940798 Research Article Quantitative Characterization of the Hemorrhagic, Necrotic, Coagulation-Altering Properties and Edema-Forming Effects of Zebra Snake (Naja nigricincta nigricincta)Venom Erick Kandiwa,1 Borden Mushonga,1 Alaster Samkange ,1 and Ezequiel Fabiano2 1 School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Neudamm Campus, University of Namibia, P. Bag 13301, Pioneers Park, Windhoek, Namibia 2Department of Wildlife Management and Ecotourism, Katima Mulilo Campus, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, P. Bag 1096, Ngweze, Katima Mulilo, Namibia Correspondence should be addressed to Alaster Samkange; [email protected] Received 30 May 2018; Revised 5 October 2018; Accepted 10 October 2018; Published 24 October 2018 Academic Editor: Anthony DeCaprio Copyright © 2018 Erick Kandiwa et al. Tis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Tis study was designed to investigate the cytotoxicity and haemotoxicity of the Western barred (zebra) spitting cobra (Naja nigricincta nigricincta) venom to help explain atypical and inconsistent reports on syndromes by Namibian physicians treating victims of human ophidian accidents. Freeze-dried venom milked from adult zebra snakes was dissolved in phosphate bufered saline (PBS) for use in this study. Haemorrhagic and necrotic activity of venom were studied in New Zealand albino rabbits. Oedema-forming activity was investigated in 10-day-old Cobb500 broiler chicks. Procoagulant and thrombolytic activity was investigated in adult Kalahari red goat blood in vitro.
    [Show full text]
  • A Preliminary Herpetological Survey of the Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary on the San Sebastian Peninsula, Vilankulo, Mozambique
    Herpetology Notes, volume 3: 181-193 (2010) (published online on 31 May 2010) A preliminary herpetological survey of the Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary on the San Sebastian Peninsula, Vilankulo, Mozambique Niels H.G. Jacobsen1*, Errol W. Pietersen2 & Darren W. Pietersen3 Abstract. This paper reports on and discusses the findings of a herpetofaunal survey of the San Sebastian Peninsula, Vilankulo, Mozambique. A total of 39 reptile and 20 amphibian species were recorded including new records for Mozambique, range extensions and taxa previously considered endemic to the Bazaruto Archipelago. Keywords. Herpetofauna, San Sebastian Peninsula, Vilankulo, Mozambique. Introduction These islands form a northward extension of the San Sebastian Peninsula. The herpetofauna of Mozambique is still relatively A survey of the herpetofauna of the San Sebastian poorly known, especially when compared to the rest of Peninsula was undertaken as part of a larger study of southern Africa. The most recent accounts are those of the vegetation and fauna to assess the conservation Broadley (1966a, 1983), Poynton & Broadley (1985a, importance of the area. b, 1987, 1988) and Channing 2001. In addition, it appears that some early records have been overlooked The Study Site in museum collections. Apart from these, most The San Sebastian Peninsula lies south-east of the recent records often emanate from scant, sporadic town of Vilankulo, forming the mainland extension of or opportunistic collecting (Downs & Wirminghaus the Bazaruto Archipelago which includes Margaruque, 1990). As a result there is a void in our knowledge, Benguera, Bazaruto and Santa Carolina islands (Fig. 1). which also complicates the interpretation of species’ The Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary (VCWS) distributions and even the taxonomic status of some lies along the peninsula between 22.0833 and 22.3500° species.
    [Show full text]
  • Zambia & Malawi
    Zambia & Malawi - The Best of Africa Naturetrek Tour Report 2 - 9 October 2016 Red-billed Oxpeckers on Kudu in middle of breeding herd of Elephants Red-necked Spurfowl Looking at African Skimmers near Mwalasi Enjoying Sable Antelopes Report and images by Samuel Lenard Chihana Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Zambia & Malawi - The Best of Africa Tour participants: Samuel Lenard Chihana (Local Guide) with four Naturetrek Clients Please note that this tour report only covers the first part of the tour, in Malawi, that was led by Samuel Lenard Chihana. We do not have reports from the other Local Guides. Day 1 Sunday 2nd October In flight to Kamuzu International Airport. Day 2 Monday 3rd October Weather: overcast and cloudy. We met at Kamuzu International Airport and, having sorted immigration formalities, changed their money and loaded the vehicle, we started our drive to Mvuu around 2.35pm. Along a Forest Reserve at Linthipe I offered them a packed lunch and they had an opportunity to walk around and stretch their legs. During our lunch break we saw Southern Citril and Bronze Manikin, flying and perched. On our way from the airport and just before stopping we saw Pied Crows, Lilac-breasted Rollers and House Sparrows. We also saw White-necked Ravens as we passed Dedza. We arrived at around 7.45pm. I gave them a briefing during check in, mentioning all activities offered in the Camp, including Village Tours, Rhino tracking, Sanctuary Drives and Hides, Help Malawi and School Visiting, and also the opportunity to visit or participate in Bat or Carnivore Research, if interested.
    [Show full text]
  • Taxonomic Status of Cobras of the Genus Naja Laurenti (Serpentes: Elapidae)
    Zootaxa 2236: 26–36 (2009) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2009 · Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) In praise of subgenera: taxonomic status of cobras of the genus Naja Laurenti (Serpentes: Elapidae) VAN WALLACH1, 4, WOLFGANG WÜSTER2 & DONALD G. BROADLEY3 1Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA 02138, USA. E-mail: [email protected] 2School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK. E-mail: [email protected] 3Biodiversity Foundation for Africa, P.O. Box FM 730, Famona, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. E-mail: [email protected] 4corresponding author Abstract The genus Naja Laurenti, 1768, is partitioned into four subgenera. The typical form is restricted to 11 Asian species. The name Uraeus Wagler, 1830, is revived for a group of four non-spitting cobras inhabiting savannas and open formations of Africa and Arabia, while Boulengerina Dollo, 1886, is applied to four non-spitting African species of forest cobras, including terrestrial, aquatic and semi-fossorial forms. A new subgenus is erected for seven species of African spitting cobras. We recommend the subgenus rank as a way of maximising the phylogenetic information content of classifications while retaining nomenclatural stability. Key words: Naja, Uraeus, Boulengerina, Afronaja subgen. nov., taxonomy, Africa, Asia Introduction The scientific nomenclature of life serves the key function of providing labels for the cataloguing of the Earth’s biodiversity and thus for information retrieval. In order to make a system of classification predictive, it is generally agreed that a classification should reflect the current state of knowledge about the evolutionary relationships within a group, which, in the case of a nested, hierarchical system of nomenclature, means recognizing only monophyletic groups as named taxa.
    [Show full text]
  • Seven Day Rwanda Birding and Nature Tour- Customized
    AVIAN SAFARIS Seven Day Rwanda Birding and Nature Tour- Customized February 18 to 24, 2018 Tour Leader: Crammy Wanyama Trip Report and Photos By Crammy Wanyama Red-throated ALethe – One of The Albertine Rift Endemics Seen Rwanda, a very small country located in the heart of Africa, has become a darling to many world travellers in a very shot time. The reasons for this quick development will be noticed without a single explanation! A beautiful country gifted in several aspects; very welcoming people with some of the most honest smiles you can imagine, panoramic views of impressive mountain ranges and water bodies some of which earn her, her popular identity as “The Land of a Thousand Hills”, this is also one of the only three homes of Mountain Gorillas and the actual place where the famous Dian Fossey based her studies that attracted the world’s Avian Safaris: Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.aviansafaris.com AVIAN SAFARIS attention to these endangered apes. Rwanda is a birder’s heaven, the diversity of habitats here host some of the most sought after birds on the continent, a prime example are the albertine rift ranges which harbor several of the regional endemics and yet the local authority does good maintenance of designated trails that make it easy to find them. Ian and myself had the pleasure to enjoy this country, from Kigali its very beautiful and 3rd world most green city in the world, to Akagera National Park the jewel of the east and Nyungwe forest the incomparable home to the Albertine Rift endemics.
    [Show full text]