Black Forest Cobra

DESCRIPTION:

The Black Forest Cobra is also known as the Guinea forest cobra. A large forest cobra with adults reaching 270 cm. The body is relatively slender, becoming thickset with age. Coloration of adults is typically dark brown to black with possible faint lighter markings. Juveniles have more distinct feint spots or bands. The throat has light and dark bands with the remainder of the underside black.. The head has a cream-colored underside with black edged lips. In adults, the labial region and neck bands may become almost entirely suffused with dark mottling, and may become indistinct.

HABITS & HABITAT:

Found in upper Guinean forests. Forest cobras are mostly active during the day, but can be active at night.. Forest cobras are terrestrial (ground-living) but climb well and spend a lot of time in trees, up to10 meters above ground. Forest cobras are generally good swimmers..It is an alert and agile species of cobra. If cornered or molested will rear up spreading a hood, sometimes quite high, and it may rush forward and make a determined effort to bite.

DISTRIBUTION:

Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau.

VENOM:

The venom is primarily neurotoxic, and bites result in severe neurotoxicity; Deaths from respiratory failure due to severe neurotoxicity have been reported, but most victims will survive if prompt administration of antivenom is undertaken; The cytotoxic components of the venom may cause progressive swelling and tissue damage.

SYMPTOMS:

The bite is relatively painless, but death from paralysis of the diaphram effecting breathing may be rapid; Nausea and vomiting; Tachycardia; Ptosis; Drowsiness; Limb paralysis; Hearing loss; Inability to speak; Dizziness; Ataxia (poor muscle control); Shock; Hypotension; Abdominal pain; Fever; Pallor (pale appearance); Other neurological and respiratory symptoms.

FIRST AID:

Do not use traditional remedies; Keep calm; Apply pressure bandage if possible; Remove restrictive clothing or jewellery (rings, bangles, watch, shoe); Immediately proceed to a medical facility that keeps antivenom.

ANTIVENOM:

No specific antivenom produced as bites are rare, but EchiTAb-Plus-ICP polyvalent antivenom might neutralize some of the venom components.