Field picture: Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus)

Nightflight99 · 12-27-15, 04:35 PM

This is a picture of an adult rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus). I photographed this specimen during a field research expedition near Whittlesea in the Eastern Cape of South Africa in December 2010. As you can tell, that specimen was full of character...

**EL Ziggy** · 12-27-15, 06:29 PM

Wow. I've never seen one of those. Totally awesome!

reptiledude987 · 12-28-15, 05:02 PM

Did this big guy try to spit at you while taking the picture? How far can some of the spitting cobras actually spit their venom with any accuracy?

Nightflight99 · 12-28-15, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reptiledude987

Did this big guy try to spit at you while taking the picture? How far can some of the spitting cobras actually spit their venom with any accuracy?

No, I don't think this specimens was spitting. Unlike a lot of the true spitting cobras (genus Naja), rinkhals do not always resort to this tactic. The accurate range for most spitters is about 6-8 ft, and at that distance they can be surprisingly accurate (always aiming for the eyes).

reptiledude987 · 12-28-15, 07:41 PM

So is 6-8' the range theyre capable of or the range theyre accurate at?

Nightflight99 · 12-28-15, 11:50 PM

That is their accurate range. Beyond that, it usually disperses into a coarse spray that isn't very effective.