Philippine Cobra, Naja Philippinensis

The Philippine Cobra is a relatively small, stocky, very toxic snake native to the Philippines. They are found on the Luzon, Mindoro, Catanduanes and Masbate islands.
Its average length is one meter.
Its color is light to medium brown while the young cobra's color is a darker brown.
They have twenty three to twenty scale rows around the neck and twenty one just above the middle part of the body.
They prey upon mice, frogs and small mammals.
The female lays eggs in clutches of ten to twenty with an incubation time of sixty to seventy days.

The venom is a neurotoxin which affects cardiac and respiratory function and can cause neurotoxicity and respiratory paralysis and death in thirty minutes.
The bite causes only minimal tissue damage.
The Philippine cobra is capable of spitting their venom up to three meters.

Philippine Cobra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Naja
Species: N. Philippinensis
Binomial name
Naja Philippinensis

Top ten most venominous snakes

10. Jararacussu (Bothrops jarararcussu) This snake can grow up to 3m in length, and may inject a whopping 800 mg of venom per bite.
1 bite has the potential to kill 32 people!
Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay

09. Tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) Distributed along the populous southeastern coast of Australia, the tiger snake is one of the most common biting snakes in Australia.
Average length is approximately 1m with fangs around 3.5-5mm in length.
Venom is produced in large quantities, with an average yield 35mg, and a record of 180mg.

08. Multibanded krait (Bungarus multicinctus) This snake is black or bluish-black in color with narrow white bands and grows up to 1.8m in length
Range: South-east Asia and South China.
Often found in aquatic areas hunting fish, frogs, or other snakes. Now rare in the wild, it is one of the famous edible snakes in China.

07. Yellow-jawed tommygoff (Bothrops asper) Locally referred too as Fer-de-lance, this snakes has an irritable disposition and may strike with little provocation.
Heat-seeking fangs help it strike accurately even in the dark! Maximum length: 2.4 meters. Distribution: Southern Mexico, throughout Central and South America.

06. Black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) The black mamba's nickname is the "bottom up snake"; the victim supposedly has time for one quick drink before expiring!
Its bite is 100% fatal if antivenim is not administered quickly.
Despite the name this snake is actually brownish-gray.
But when threatened, it opens its mouth wide and gives the victims a good view of the lining of its mouth - black, of course.
This is the fastest land snake in the world, reaching top speeds of 16-19 km/hr in short bursts.
It can grow up to 4.3 meters long, and is found in African savannahs and open woodlands.

05. Russell's viper (Daboia russelli) This is the leading killer of humans at over 6000 deaths each year.
It has the most toxic venom of the terrestrial snakes -- bites can cause death within 15 min.
This snake is abundant over its entire range: South China, India, SE Asia - and it likes to live near humans.

04. King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) This is the world's largest venomous snake, with a record length of 5.58m.
They are most aggressive during mating and nesting season, when both male and female diligently guard their nest and will attack anything that comes near.
Although it is the largest venomous snake in the world, it causes relatively few bites on humans. The King Cobra is found in Thailand, southern China, Malaysia Peninsula, and the Philippines.

03. Philippine cobra (Naja Naja Philippinensis) This is a relatively small stocky brown snake, usually up to 100 cm in length.
Cobras are recognized by the hoods that they flare when angry or disturbed; the hoods are created by the extension of the ribs behind the cobras' heads.
They are famous for their use by Oriental snake charmers because they respond well to visual cues. Distribution: Philippine Islands.

02. Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) The common krait has the highest fatality rate of any snake on record.
In one study of 32 victims admitted to hospital only two survived! Its venom is a powerful neurotoxin that causes respiratory failure.
Unfortunately, the krait has a tendency to seek shelter in sleeping bags, boots, and tents. Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

1. Coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) One bite from this snake delivers enough venom to kill around 120 people!
It can reach a length of over 3.7 meters, and is very aggressive.
It strikes without warning, not once, but several times. Its bite is extraordinarily fast and accurate, injecting venom that clots blood and can kill in minutes. Distribution: Northern Australia and southern New Guinea.

Tip: Avoid all these snakes and if by rare chance you are bitten, get medical attention immediately!

Redactie: info(at)rijskamp.com                 
Cagayan de Oro, Indahag May 26, 2008

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