Red Spitting Cobra

Red spitting cobras can spit their venom into a predator or prey’s eyes from up to 8 feet away with 100% accuracy.

Red spitting cobras (Naja pallida) of Africa are medium-length snakes with unique defensive adaptations. Scientists believe the snakes’ venom-spitting capabilities evolved in direct response to the threats presented by early humans. Because people have forward-facing eyes, the snake can accurately target the eyes and deter a human attack from 8 feet away. Although the venom is highly toxic, it is not deadly to people. So the tactic enables the snake to flee before the threat gets close enough to harm it.

Although its name includes the color “red,” not all red spitting snakes are red. Depending on the snake’s home geography, it may feature an orange, pink, yellow, gray, or brown body color. Age and growth can also fade their coloration.

Because these cobras are cannibalistic and will eat their own species, juveniles must avoid encountering bigger snakes of their own kind. For this reason, juveniles and adults of small size are diurnal, hunting and moving beyond their den during the day and sleeping at night. As they grow to a bigger size and are more able to defend themselves, they settle into being nocturnal like other adults of their species.

5 Amazing Red Spitting Cobra Facts

• Red spitting cobras can spit their highly toxic venom up to 8 feet
• The snakes spit directly into the eyes of predators, rendering the threat incapable of attack with 100% accuracy
• Scientists believe that the red spitting cobra evolved from injecting venom to spitting it in response to the constant threat of early humans
• These cobras also have a typical cobra hood that they open while raising 2/3 of their body from the ground to intimidate predators
• Baby red spitting cobras are born able to bite and defend themselves but must be active during the daytime and hide at night to avoid their species’ own cannibalistic adults

Where to Find Red Spitting Cobras

Red spitting cobras are native to the continent of Africa. They live mostly in East Africa, including Somalia, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Sudan, Kenya, and Eritrea. The spitting snakes mostly live near water sources in semidesert and dry savanna regions.

Scientific Name

The scientific name of the red spitting cobra is Naja pallida. Most commonly, people refer to the snake as the red spitting cobra or simply an “African cobra.” It is from the Elapidae family, Reptilia class, and Squamata order. The scientific name Naja pallida comes from Sanskrit “nāga,” meaning “snake” and the Latin term “pallidus,” meaning “pale or yellow.”

Population & Conservation Status

According to the IUCN Red List for Endangered Species, the red spitting cobra’s conservation status is of “least concern” as of 2014. The IUCN also reports that the snake’s population is “stable,” and is easy to locate in East Africa. In Tanzania, this conservation organization reports that at least one snake can be found per day in each locality when searching for the species.

Appearance & Description

Red spitting cobras are snakes of medium size that grow to between 2.3ft and 3.9ft in length. Although it is called a red spitting cobra, one of the more interesting facts about this African snake’s coloration is that it can vary widely according to the geography in which it lives. Color variations for the snake’s body range from bright salmon-red to orange, pink, yellow, gray, or brown.

Whatever its primary color, the snake usually has a wide black or dark blue throat band and teardrop markings beneath each eye. The ventral throat area may also be cream-colored. Some of the cobras from outside of East Africa have multiple throat bands. The larger the snake grows, the less pronounced these throat bands may become. Some snakes outgrow their colored bands altogether.

When the cobra feels threatened or cornered, such as by a human, the snake will raise up to two-thirds of its body from the ground. It shows its cobra hood and hisses just before spitting venom into the intruder’s eyes from as far as 8 feet away.

How to identify a red spitting cobra:

• Salmon-red, red-orange, orange, pink, yellow, gray, or brown body
• Broad black or dark blue band around the snake’s throat, sometimes broken into 2 to 3 bands
• Dark teardrop marking around and beneath each eye
• Tapered, slightly slender body
• Broad, flat head with a rounded snout
• Rounded pupils
• Smooth dorsal scales
• Up to two-thirds of the snake’s body raised off of the ground in a defensive position
• Showing cobra hood to predators or humans while hissing and spitting venom into the intruder’s eyes from up to 8 feet away

Red Spitting Cobra Venom: How Dangerous Are They?

Red spitting cobras are venomous. One of the more interesting facts about these intimidating reptiles is that they are not deadly to humans. Their venom can cause eye irritation and temporary or even permanent blindness by burning the cornea. If the snake bites a human, the transfer of the venom onto the bitten region generally does not cause major infection or harm, but can lead to infection if it enters existing cuts or wounds. The venom contains harmful substances, such as nerve toxins. Although the toxins are not potent enough to kill people, it does quickly subdue the snake’s typical prey. These cytotoxins destroy body tissues while neurotoxins paralyze the respiratory system of small animals.

The snakes are highly accurate in executing their spit attack on humans because we have forward-facing eyes that make easy targets. The cobra can successfully land the venom into the eyes with every effort from up to 8 feet away. If you are ever sprayed by this snake’s venom, it is important to immediately wash your eyes and seek the help of emergency medical personnel. If bitten, also seek medical attention. Sometimes the bite causes oral numbness and significant pain at the wound site.

Red Spitting Cobra Behavior and Humans

Red spitting cobras are considered to be beautiful by many people, primarily due to their red coloration, black teardrop markings beneath each eye, and defensive poses. This defensive stance includes lifting up to two-thirds of the snake’s body from the ground with an open cobra hood. Overall, the reptiles help control pest populations, such as mice and other snakes. Of course, they are venomous creatures and must be avoided by people. They can be aggressive around people, particularly since they have the ability to spray their venom with accuracy from up to 8 feet away from their target.

Similar Animals

• Egyptian cobra
• False cobra 
• Yellow cobra