Department of Vertebrates
Herpetology Collection
RINKHALS (Hemachatus haemachatus) (Dangerous)
 Juvenile phase (Boarder area of distribution) |
 Adult phase |
The Rinkhals look fairly similar to the Cobras but has keeled scales and only has a single species in the Genus.
The colour may vary but is usually a spotted black (Adults of N Cape) to brown colour (Gauteng area) with yellow to white cross bars with 2- 3 large bands on the ventral side of the neck. In the adults the bars usually fade away to a uniform black colour as in the photos above. The average length is 1 metre with a record length of 1.5 metres.The Rinkhals is ovoviviparous meaning that they give birth to 15 up to 60 live young during the late summer. The occur under the 2 500 metres and usually in the grassy areas of the Southern Cape, Transkei, Orange Free State, Lesotho, Natal and western Swaziland and south east Transvaal but not in the Low Veld and should not be confused with the Mozambique Spitting Cobra.
The venom is neurotoxic but not as toxic as Cobras and is more diluted when spitted. The hole in the fangs are not at the tip of the teeth as with the Cobras but has a canal that ends in an elbow that projects the poison up and forward. Venom in the eyes can be very painful and cause blurred vision and the eyes should be washed with water or milk