Talk:Rinkhals

Couple of facts
I feel it should be pointed out that rinkhals are in fact not true cobras, as they have keeled dorsal scales (as opposed to smooth) and give birth to live young, true cobras lay eggs.

Also they can only "spit" their venom from an upright position, as unlike spitting cobras they do not have hollow fangs and "spit" their venom by letting it drip down their fangs and then flicking it forwards. --LaughingManic (talk) 19:03, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

Distribution
The distribution section of this page claims "This species is found in the Southern Cape province of South Africa,...". There is no Southern Cape province. There is the Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape. The Western and Eastern comprise the southernmost parts of South Africa. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Greatmar2 (talk • contribs) 09:16, 16 August 2019 (UTC)


 * They are also found in the North West Province of South Africa. IanPhilbrick (talk) 11:47, 10 December 2023 (UTC)

Name
The name of these snakes sounds German, but in German, they are called Ringhalskobra, note the g instead of the k. Is there an explanation for this typo? – Sivizius (talk) 17:45, 19 July 2022 (UTC)
 * PS: Ok, might be Africans (it is also Ringhals in Dutch, so I assumed it to be the same in Africans too first). If this is the case, this should be in the article. – Sivizius (talk) 17:48, 19 July 2022 (UTC)

Deaths reported from a bite?
Are there even any deaths reported from being bitten by these specimens?

The last death reported was completly ages ago, the venom only causes necrosis once injected and does not immediately kill, if even at all. 90.233.201.144 (talk) 09:36, 13 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Regardless of your opinion on this matter, if you keep adding unsourced statements to this article, you will be blocked from editing. No source = no addition. -- Elmidae (talk · contribs) 10:33, 13 January 2023 (UTC)
 * According to Johan Marais of the African Snakebite Institute, the last death from a Rinkhals was decades ago. I will provide reference once I have accessed his latest book on Snakes of Southern Africa. IanPhilbrick (talk) 11:42, 10 December 2023 (UTC)

Not a true Cobra
This reference needs to be excluded as the Rinkhals is not a Cobra at all as stated, it falls within its own Genus and is the only species within that Genus. The history of its name which or may not include the term "Cobra" is acceptable however. IanPhilbrick (talk) 11:34, 10 December 2023 (UTC)

Venom
The venom of the Rinkhals is largely cytotoxic with an element of neurotoxicity, with a mixed syndrome of Painful Progressive Swelling and Progressive Weakness. Reference African Snakebite Institute App for now. Will reference Johan Marais' latest book on snakes of Southern Africa once I gain access to one. IanPhilbrick (talk) 11:39, 10 December 2023 (UTC)