The rinkhals, the Mozanbiquen spitting cobra and the black necked spitting cobra, are the only snake species in southern Africa that 'spit' venom. The rinkhals is the least effective of the three, even although it seems to hurl the poison forwards, the reared part of its body often hitting the ground with an audible thud during the exercise.
The spitting range is up to 2,5 m. If venom enters the eye it should be washed out immediately, to prevent damage to the eye. The venom of the rinkhals is neurotoxic - causing nervous dysfunction - and it can cause death from respiratory paralysis, although this is rare. Anti-venom is an effective antidote against the toxin.
If cornered, a rinkhals will feign death and go completely limp, but will make a sudden getaway or give a nasty bite. Although sometimes seen on cloudy days, it is mainly nocturnal and feeds mostly on small vertebrates, especially toads. It is closely related to cobras, but its scales have a prominent central ridge or keel, and are not smooth.
They are concentrated in the southern and southeastern Cape, Transkei, Lesotho, Orange Free State. southern Transvaal and Swaziland with a small population in the Inyanga region of Zimbabwe.
They grow up to 1,2 m
are black or brown - either uniform or with spots or variegations. A banded form has a black head and alternate bands of brownish black and yellow or orange along the back. Underparts are dark brown or black with one or two (occasionally three) broad white bands across the throat, visible when the rinkhals rears up and spreads its hood.
The uniform brown colour resembles the mole snake, which does not, however, rear up and spread a hood. Brown and black forms resemble the Egyptian cobra, but the latter usually has yellowish underparts and black band under neck. The banded form resembles Namibian subspecies of black-necked spitting cobra, but the latter has yellowish underparts and a wide black throat band.
Their preferred habitat is grassland, where they live in rodent burrows or old termite mounds.
Best places to see the Rinkhals in Southern Africa:
• Kruger National Park
 Snakes of Southern Africa >> Printable Snake List <<
South African Snakes >> Printable Snake List <<
Wildlife - Fauna & Flora of Southern Africa
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