Rinkhals Ring necked Spitting Cobra Hemachatus haemachatus Typical South African snake that fake death as secondary defence

Rinkhals Ring necked Spitting Cobra Hemachatus haemachatus This typically South African snake is common in certain parts of its range particularly over the Highveld savannah Predominantly nocturnal snakes that feeds on toads small rodents birds lizards and other snakes Hooding and then spitting neurotoxic venom is the main means of defence If this fails the snake will fake death by turning over going totally limp and opening the muzzle Distribution Eastern regions of South Africa Also recorded in the extreme north eastern part of Zimbabwe