Naja melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857

Pauwels, Olivier S. G., Morelle, Stephan, Albert, Jean-Louis, Carlino, Piero, Rahola, Nil & Trape, Jean-François, 2019, New reptile records from Lékédi Park and Haut-Ogooué Province, southeastern Gabon, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 174) 13 (1), pp. 143-161 : 152

Naja melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857

On 1 September 2016 an Anatolian Shepherd Dog killed an adult black and white cobra in Bakoumba, biting and chewing its face and throat (RBINS 18481, see Appendix 1). The dog was itself bitten on the face by the snake and quickly showed neurological and shock symptoms (hypersalivation, ataxia, tachycardia, and hyperpnea). The dog was treated with Medetomidine for anaesthesia, and three injections each of a third of a dose of FAV-Africa serum, the first one just after the bite, then 12 hours and 24 hours later. The dog recovered and was eating again 48 hours after the bite. Another cobra was photographed in Bakoumba by SM on 8 February 2018. New Dept. record (this cobra species was not listed from the Dept. by Pauwels and Vande weghe 2008; Pauwels et al. 2017b). The species was first recorded from Haut-Ogooué Prov. by Pauwels et al. (2007) based on an individual from Franceville. Another case of bite of a dog by this ubiquitous cobra in Gabon was mentioned by Pauwels et al. (2017b). See also above, under the account for Dasypeltis fasciata , and Fig. 24 .

Figures

Fig. 24. Young Naja melanoleuca swallowing an adult Dasypeltis fasciata in Franceville, Haut-Ogooué Prov., southeastern Gabon. Photograph by N. Rahola.