Monocled cobra

Gifkracht

Beten

Het gif komt naar buiten via de giftanden of tanden als het bijt.

Wat doet zijn gif als het bijt of steekt?

The venom is neurotoxic, meaning it attacks the nerves. It blocks nerve signals to the muscles, which can cause paralysis and, in severe cases, death from respiratory failure. The venom also contains myotoxins (which damage muscle) and cardiotoxins (which harm the heart), and usually causes extensive local tissue death (necrosis) around the bite. Drowsiness and neurological symptoms usually appear first, while pain, flushing and low blood pressure typically appear within one to four hours. In very severe cases, paralysis or death can occur as early as 60 minutes. The neurotoxins of this species are described as weak.1

Hoe gevaarlijk is het voor mensen?

It is responsible for a significant share of snakebite cases and deaths in its range. It causes the greatest number of snakebite fatalities in Thailand. In Thailand between 1968 and 1974, 20 cobra bites were recorded, all with systemic envenoming, and 19 patients survived.1

Goed nieuws: dokters hebben hier een medicijn (tegengif) of een behandeling voor.1

Wat doet het als het bang is?

When disturbed it prefers to escape, but when threatened it raises the front of its body, spreads its hood, hisses loudly and strikes to bite.1