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University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present University Relations
9-11-1974
UM herpetologist receives gift of Egyptian cobra
University of Montana--Missoula. Office of University Relations
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Recommended Citation University of Montana--Missoula. Office of University Relations, "UM herpetologist receives gift of Egyptian cobra" (1974). University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present. 23678. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/newsreleases/23678
This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Relations at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ~ news Information Services niversity of montana • missoula, montana 59801 • (406) 243-2522 IMMEDIATELY lenihan/rb 9-11-74 UM HERPATOLOGIST RECEIVES state + cs GIFT OF EGYPTIAN COBRA
MISSOULA--
Dr. Royal B. Brunson, professor of zoology at the University of Montana in Missoula, has added a new snake to the University's collection of poisonous snakes. The newcomer is an Egyptian cobra, species "Naja haje," which arrived from Africa by way of Thailand to
Florida to Helena to Missoula.
Brunson received the specimen from an amateur herpatologist (snake specialist) and friend, Dean Lewis, who owns a floor covering business in Helena. The Egyptian cobra is found only in Africa, from Egypt to Marrocco and as far south as Zambia and Southwest
Africa.
Brunson said his first problem with the cobra was getting it settled down enough to eat. Poisonous snakes are difficult to raise in captivity because they will starve themselves if upset.
The cobra's natural food is jerboas and lizards, neither of which is available as a steady diet in Montana. However, Brunson said the snake has found gerbils to his liking and has eaten twice since being acquired Friday, Sept. 6.
The Egyptian cobra differs from the more famous Asiatic king cobra by having a narrower hood. It is the snake featured in ancient Egyptian headresses, and it's most likely the snake Cleopatra used to commit suicide. The poison of the cobra is a neurotoxin, which means it affects the nerve endings. The poison works extremely fast and is fatal to a man in 45 minutes. The cobra can kill an elephant in four hours. By contrast, the poison of a rattlesnake is a hemotoxin, which means it is carried through the blood, and works much slower. Brunson said the zoology department has taken every precaution with the cobra, including a locked plexiglass cage and two supplies of "Behring" antivenom, one which is kept in the zoology department and one at the UM Student Health Service. Brunson said he is ably assisted by Mary Anderson and Jeff Miller, graduate students in environmental science, in the handling and feeding of all the reptiles in the UM collection.
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