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4x4Cape Monthly Social in April 2013 had the Cape Reptile Institute come and present the Western Cape Snakes
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Basic Snake Identification and Awareness
2013/04/03
Marcel Witberg
e-mail – [email protected]
Cell – 082 784 7314
© Cape Reptile Institute 2011
Kobus Smit
e-mail – [email protected]
Cell – 072 480 2007
Elroy Arendse
e-mail – [email protected]
Cell – 082 616 0090
Tony Phelps BSc, PhD
Director
e-mail – [email protected]
Cell – 076 378 0132
(Mole Snake – Pseudaspis cana)
Photo’s
- - - 0 - - -
Cape Cobra (Naja nivea) Puff Adder (Bitis a. arietans)
Presentation
General Snake Introduction
• In general snakes are best left alone
Part of a balanced eco-system
Predator and Prey
• There are situations where it is necessary to remove snakes
In and around your dwelling / work place
Campsites / Leisure accommodation
Car engine compartments
• The reason
Food source – Rats, mice, frogs
Shelter – Roof space, rubbish heaps
Water source – Dripping tap, ponds, toilets
• Main cause is Habitat destruction
Housing developments
Mining
• Learn the facts not the myths
• Snakes need more friends – Broaden your knowledge base.
• Snake are part of life - wherever / whatever
Venomous / Non Venomous
If unidentifiable
Treat as venomous
General Snake Identification
• Head
Snakes have large or small scales on top of the head
The shape of a snake’s head is described in relation to the rest of the body
• Colour
Come in just about any colour.
Colouring helps the snake to survive (Camouflage/Defense)
Body bottom / top have various patterns and various colours
• Basic Shapes
Cylindrical, Triangular, Dorsally Flattened, Laterally Flattened
• Scale type and texture
All snakes are covered in scales.
Various types of scales – Smooth / Keeled / Big / Small
• Area found (Habitats)
Generalists - Found in any habitat
Specialists – Found in a specialized habitat
• Heat-Sensitive Pits
Normally found in Adders, Vipers, Pythons and Boa’s
• Types of prey
Generalists – Eat a variety of prey.
Specialists – Eat only a certain type of prey.
• Type of eye
Species dependant - snake eyes can have various colours, round pupils, pupils slit
vertically or slit horizontally.
Snake's eyes are covered by clear scales and have no movable eyelids.
• Type of Locomotion
Serpentine Crawling, Concertina Locomotion,
Lateral Undulation, Side Winding Locomotion
Snake Identification – Cape Cobra
• Moderate size cobra – 1,4m to 1,8m
• Scales
Body – Smooth and Shiny
Head – Shield headed scales
• Eyes are medium in size and have round pupils
• Head – Fairly distinct from body (Exaggerated by venom glands)
• Juvi Markings
Dark Band visible when it spreads a hood
• Habits & Behaviour
Spreads a long narrow prominent hood.
Will stand its ground if provoked
Will bite readily
Diurnal - active during the day
Fangs Smallish and located in front of the mouth
• Venom & Bite
The venom is a powerful Neurotoxin
Onset of symptoms is rapid
• difficulty in breathing
• loss of muscular control being quickly evident
A bite from a Cape Cobra - extreme Medical Emergency
Accounts for most snakebite fatalities in the Province.
Treatment includes
• respiratory assistance
• large quantities of antivenom
Snake Identification – Boom Slang
• Average length 1 – 1.5m
can occasionally reach 2m
• Scales
Body – Keeled
Head – Shield headed scales
• Big eyes and the pupils are almost round
• Head – Fairly distinct from body
• Colour
Males are usually blackish or greyish above with body scales edged with yellow, and
with yellow bellies.
Females are brown or olive, but often greyish black with pale creamy white bellies.
• Habits & Behaviour
Diurnal - Active by day
Will spend much of the time in trees and bushes, but will also bask and forage on the
ground.
It is an inoffensive snake; but will inflate the neck (lateral hood) when annoyed.
• Fangs
They are referred to as rear-fanged snakes, but in actual fact the fangs are located
underneath the eye.
• Venom and Bite
Due to its large gape is capable of delivering an effective bite by striking, and not
chewing.
The venom is a powerful Haematoxin, and symptoms may be delayed for up to twenty
hours.
A bite from a boomslang is a Medical Emergency
The specific antivenom is only held in major city medical facilities in South Africa.
Snake Identification – Puff Adder
• A large stout-bodied adder - average size of around 0,8m – 1,2m
• Scales
Body – Keeled
Head – Scale-headed
• Eyes are small and have vertical pupils
• Head – Very distinct from body
• Colour
Greyish to reddish brown, Western Cape puff adders tend to be more colourful; reddish
brown with yellow black edged forward facing chevron-shaped markings.
• Habits & Behaviour
Diurnal in cool part of year, but nocturnal during summer months.
Its superb camouflage is difficult to spot in the veld, and may easily be trodden upon.
They often make a hissing noise to warn you to back off.
• Fangs
They have large movable fangs in the front of the mouth
• Venom and Bite
Will strike and bite readily if provoked.
The venom is Cytotoxic -
necrosis of the bitten limb or hand is a common post-symptom.
A bite is a Medical Emergency and recovery may be slow
Snake Identification – Mole Snake
• A large constrictor - average just over a metre, but in the Western Cape can reach 2 metres
• Scales
• Body – Smooth scales
• Head – Shield headed scales
Eyes are small and the pupils are round
Head – Not distinct from body
• Colour
Any shade of uniform brown to black above with a lighter coloured belly.
Juvenile and immature specimens are boldly marked with zigzag markings and spots.
• Habits & Behaviour
Active by day, often found around farms and vineyards
Although non-venomous will deliver a painful and deep bite if molested.
Due to its large size and colour is often confused with the Cape cobra.
• Fangs
A non-venomous snake (constrictor) with a powerful bite.
Basic Awareness
• Don’t walk bare foot or with sandals.
• Wear closed shoes or boots when venturing into the veld.
• Wear long trousers, preferably jeans.
• Use some form of light when walking around at night.
• Watch where you are walking and try and stick to roads.
• Do not step over logs and rocks – Rather step on to them.
• Stay away from snakes that look as if they are dead.
• Never put an unprotected hand down a hole in the ground because a snake may be using this as
a lair.
• Always keep your cell phone with you when hiking, and keep it charged.
Basic Emergency First Aid
• Alert the nearest hospital or medical centre.
• Expose the bite if hidden by clothing, and flush any excess venom away with a clean wet cloth.
• Remove constrictive items such as rings, watches, and shoes
• Apply pressure bandage in the case of a Cape Cobra bite. A pressure bandage, ideally a crepe
bandage, should be applied to the entire limb, and as tight as would be used for a sprained
ankle. A pressure bandage is not a tourniquet and can be left in place until reaching hospital
• A splint can be added to immobilise the limb
• Do not squeeze the wound; and most definitely do not attempt to cut the wound.
• Do not apply poultices or any herbal ‘remedies’ to the wound
• Do not take alcohol or any other stimulant; just a little water if required
• In the case of Cape Cobra bite be prepared to administer artificial respiration.
• Be aware of the danger of AIDS virus; avoid direct contact with blood and other bodily fluids.
• Carry the victim to the vehicle. It is probably better to drive directly to hospital rather than wait
for an ambulance
CRI Snake Handling Courses
• Courses are presented by the Cape Reptile Institute (CRI) http://www.crepinstitute.co.za/
• Director – Dr T Phelps
Facilitators – Marcel Witberg and Kobus Smit
• CRI Snake Awareness, Identification and Handling course is FGASA endorsed.
http://www.fgasa.org.za/AccrTrainers.asp
