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Friday, February 17, 2012

Mozambique Spitting Cobra Very Dangerous

Mozambique Spitting Cobra (Naja mossambica)


The Mozambique spitting cobra is a fairly small and slender snake. Its skin is slate to olive grey,
olive or tawny brown on top, and pink to brownish-yellow below. It has black bars across the neck and on the hood, with speckles, blotches, and spots mixed in. The body is cylindrical with a long tail and its nose is blunt. Mozambique spitting cobra length is 3 feet–4 feet 8 inches, Weight: 10–15 pounds, Lifespan: 25 years. 


Combat: Considered to be one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa, the spitting cobra can spray its venom at a target that is 6–10 feet away. Its spray is remarkably accurate in targeting the eyes. When threatened, it will rear up the front ⅔ of its body, spread its long narrow hood, and hiss loudly. If this fails to deter an enemy, it will spray it with its venom. If this fails, the
snake is most likely to run (or more accurately, slither). It will typically bite only as a
last resort. It is even known to sham death to avoid further molestation from an attacker.


Reproduction: After 2 months’ gestation, the female lays 8–22 eggs that hatch after 65–90 days. The young are 8–10 inches at birth.
 

Diet: Mozambique spitting cobras eat other snakes, small mammals, toads, eggs, and birds, including poultry.

  
Mozambique Spitting Cobra Venom
A successful strike with this Attack causes the target to be Blinded and Stunned by the shock and pain. They will remain Stunned for 1 round, and will be Blinded until they take 1 minute (10 rounds) to rinse their eyes out with water.
 

Poison (Ex): The spitting cobra may inject venom as part of its Bite attack. Its venom has the following qualities:
Poison – Injury DC 12; Initial: 1d3 Dex, 1 Con; Secondary: 1d6 Dex, Paralysis.
Venom – Type: H & N; Initial; 1d3 Dex, 1 hp (fail), None (succeed); Interval: 1 hr; Secondary: 1d6 Dex, 1d4 hp (fail), 1d3 Dex, 2 hp (succeed). See The Bestiary: Predators pages 222 and 224 for details on how to handle an envenomation.


The venom Naja mossambica is more hemotoxic than that of most other cobra species, causing a great deal of tissue damage and bleeding. They are often found hunting rats in urban parks and gardens. It does not have to spread its hood to spit, and can spit with its head on the ground.

Skills & Abilities: This cobra receives a +8 species bonus on Balance, Climb, Swim and Survival checks and a +4 species bonus on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot. It applies its Dexterity modifier to Climb checks.


Treasure: Adult Untrained: 1 gold piece, Leather: 1 gold piece, Venom: 6 doses worth 200 gold pieces each. They are also hunted for their skin, which is used for decorative leather. About 6 doses of venom can be harvested from the spitting cobra. If the snake has managed to make Bite attacks during the process of capturing or killing it, the number of doses should be reduced accordingly.
 

Food Value: Cobra meat is excellent in quality. The average carcass weighs 30 pounds and is worth 3 gold pieces.
 

Hunting Tips: Due to this snake’s spitting capability, it should only be hunted with a ranged weapon from over 10 feet away.

Mozambique Spitting Cobra Habitats: Scrub, Grassland, Mountain, Semi-desert, Urban.
Location: South Eastern Africa in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, north-eastern Namibia, southern Tanzania, Malawi, and Swaziland. They are found in mountainous regions to heights of 6,000 feet.

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