Rinkhals

(Hemachatus haemachatus)
(DANGEROUS)

The Rinkhals look fairly similar to the Cobras but has keeled scales and only has a single species in the Genus.

The colour may vary but is usually a spotted black (Adults of N Cape) to brown colour (Gauteng area) with yellow to white cross bars with 2- 3 large bands on the ventral side of the neck. In the adults the bars usually fade away to a uniform black colour as in the photos above. The average length is 1 metre with a record length of 1.5 metres.The Rinkhals is ovoviviparous meaning that they give birth to 15 up to 60 live young during the late summer. The occur under the 2 500 metres and usually in the grassy areas of the Southern Cape, Transkei, Orange Free State, Lesotho, Natal and western Swaziland and south east Transvaal but not in the Low Veld and should not be confused with the Mozambique Spitting Cobra.

The venom is neurotoxic but not as toxic as Cobras and is more diluted when spitted. The hole in the fangs are not at the tip of the teeth as with the Cobras but has a canal that ends in an elbow that projects the poison up and forward. Venom in the eyes can be very painful and cause blurred vision and the eyes should be washed with water or milk

Rinkhals are definitely a nocturnal species, but may occasionally be observed basking during the day.

A curious fact about this species is the ability to feign death. This snake, if presented with no possibility to flee, and faced with a "predator" unfazed by it's spitting- will roll over on it's back melodramatically, open it's mouth and let the tongue hang out, all this to discourage whoever may be hovering over it. Soon after the assumed predator has walked away, the animal will roll over on it's belly and slide carelessly away..

Behaviour

Venom

The venom of this species is less viscous (i.e. thinner) than that of other African elapids, naturally, as thinner fluid is naturally easier to spit. However, the venom of Hemachatus is produced in copious amounts- yields average 80-120 mg. (LD50 1.1-1.6 mg/kg) with an estimated lethal dose for humans of 50-60 mg.

Actual bites from Hemachatus are fairly rare, and deaths in modern times are so far unheard of. Local symptoms of swelling / bruising is reported in about 25% of cases. General symptoms of drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, violent abdominal pain / cramps and vertigo often occur, as does a mild pyrexial reaction. Neurotoxic symptoms are however rare and have only included diplopia and dyspnoea. Ophthalmia has been reported, but has not caused as severe complications as in some of the spitters in the genus Naja (especially N. nigricollis & N. mossambica).