Venom in My Eyes!: Working with Spitting Cobras

[findi]

Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career spent at several zoos, aquariums, and museums, including over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo
Working with Spitting Cobras has been a fascinating, if sometimes un-nerving, experience. In addition to being able to deliver venom via biting or ejection through the air, Spitting Cobras also have the alertness and speed that is typical of nearly all the world’s 353 Elapid species. On two occasions, I’ve had to re-capture a total of 6 escaped Red Spitting Cobras (Naja pallida) – once because a man helped his little son to kick in the glass of an exhibit at the Bronx Zoo! (please see article linked below) But despite these incidents, and decades of working closely with related species, the only venom to wind up in my eyes came not from a Spitter, but rather courtesy of a species that “cannot spit” – the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox). Read the rest of this article here http://bit.ly/15ja2TO
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My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with: http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp

Best Regards, Frank

 

[The Snark]

Knowing the speed and ferocity of the Diamond back I'm not at all surprised. They like it hot but need lots of ventilation means screens means potential venom spray. I'm also of the opinion that in the wild a very healthy peak condition well fed and watered rattler is rare, hence dry bites. Kept in a zoo like you did under ideal conditions they are likely to be much more juicy. I'm glad your eyes were okay. I'd say you were darned lucky. Eyes heal faster than any other part of the body. If the venom had gone systemic getting in a suture you could have been in very serious trouble. Blown corneas at the very least.

I learned my lesson with cobras staring up at a one in a small tree and unable to see any markings. Brain goes, HEY DUMBSNIT! Maybe Siamensis? It was, but not inclined to use the long distance weapon from it's perch. From that time on I've never approached closer than 15 feet from a hood if I can't see a monocle or circumferential stripe. Or it's just too darned big to be a spitter. While my cobra experience is mostly limited to the three we have here it just seems a rule of thumb sensible to always assume spitter with anything remotely resembling a cobra until proven otherwise.

 

[Najakeeper]

Spitters are weird snakes. Some species spit like a firehose when they are young forget that they are spitters when they grow up. For example, "most" N.samarensis never spit after a certain age yet others will keep on spitting forever. I got spat on by my juvenile Naja pallida almost everyday when I was in the States. Once it got through the protection I had and believe me, "NOT FUN". The cytotoxins in that venom hurt like hell. Of course I immediately washed it away and bathed my eye in tea for a while, I was perfectly fine the next day, eyes heal fast.

Still working with spitters have other dangers, especially the ones that act like firehoses as the venom gets aerosolized and it is very easy to get venom allergies after a while. I am not allergic to anything but I gave up on those snakes just because of this even though red spitters look amazing.

Here one of my girls back in the day. Notice the venom on the glass:

 

[The Snark]

I really don't understand spitters. They fire off venom far out of the range other snakes gets into strike mode. Why and how did this long distance thing come about? I realize it's purely defense but how did evolution determine it was effective?

 

[Najakeeper]

Well, I am sure they survive at a higher rate due to being able to fend of predators that may have superficial immunity to neurotoxic venom but their eyes would still burn. Random mutation causes ability to spray venom and it gives an edge against predators.

No spraying whatsoever when they are in hunting mode so totally defensive.