Hi jan2222,
Thank you for a fascinating question.
The various names you can find information on this snake are:
hooded malpolon moilensis
Hooded Montpellier Snake
Arabian Hooded Montpellier Snake (Malpolon moilensis)
Arabian rear-fanged snake
false cobra Malpolon moilensis
Family Colubridae (colubrids) Genus Malpolon (Montpelier snakes)
Colubridae
The largest group of snakes worldwide. In this family there are
species that are rear-fanged; however, most are completely harmless to
man. They have a venom-producing gland and enlarged, grooved rear
fangs that allow venom to flow into the wound. The inefficient venom
apparatus and the specialized venom is effective on cold-blooded
animals (such as frogs and lizards) but not considered a threat to
human life.
========
According to an article: Snakes from the Abu Dhabi Region By J.N.B. Brown:
"It is not uncommon to encounter snakes sunbathing as the day warms
up. Being cold-blooded creatures, they need to maintain temperatures
by absorbing heat from their surroundings. However, when in search of
food, they emerge at dusk or during the hours of darkness. It is then
that jerboas, gerbils and numerous lizards and beetles are most
active."
http://www.enhg.org/b/b39/39_13.htm
When threatened, the hooded Malpolon sometimes raises the forepart of
its body above the ground and faces its attacker with neck flattened
and spread in an impressive cobra-like hood.
http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/196805/the.toad-head.from.najd.and.other.reptiles.htm
On land, two species of cobra and one species of viper have been
reported from the Emirates. Five or six species of non-poisonous
snakes have also been found. It is possible that the "cobras" that
have been reported are actually a colubrid called Malpolon miolensis
(Reuss), which often erects a cobra-like hood when defensive. This
rear-fanged snake, known as the Arabian Rear-fang, though slightly
poisonous, could not inject the fatal dose of poison that the cobra
would inject.
http://www.enhg.org/b/b01/01_24.htm
"when in search of food, they emerge at dusk or during the hours of
darkness. It is then that jerboas, gerbils and numerous lizards and
beetles are most active.
http://www.enhg.org/b/b39/39_13.htm
"June and July. The lower limb was the most common site of bite (66
cases, 94.3%), and they occurred mostly at night (43 cases, 63.2%).
Walking barefooted or wearing slippers, and incompletely covering the
feet at night were the most common predisposing factors for snakebite
(66 cases, 94.3%). Most cases (60, 85%) suffered outdoor bites. The
offending snake was killed and available in 16 cases (22.8%), and
these snakes included [...] Malpolon moilensis (4)."
[...]
"The higher incidence of snakebite among non-Saudis may be due to the
occupational exposure of migrant foreign workers such as shepherds and
farmers, and the higher rates in males can be explained by their
increased outdoor exposure. The peak incidence of snakebite in the
summer months is explained by the hybernation of snakes during winter.
The risk of snakebite increased with age, possibly due to the greater
outdoor exposure of adults.
Incidence rates for snakebite declined after the health education
program, indicating the possibility of avoiding snakebite simply by
wearing shoes and not walking barefooted. The decline in incidence
rates was significant in all groups studied except for those below 15
years of age. This may be due to the fact that this age group was not
involved in the health education program, since they receive care
through the school health services.
Snakebites affected mainly the lower limbs (94.3%). This supports the
feasibility of preventing bites by not walking about barefooted. Most
of the bites occurred during the night (63.2%), reflecting the
nocturnal activity of snakes."
http://www.kfshrc.edu.sa/annals/201/99-108.htm
Habitat - Sandy deserts, where it lies partly covered by loose sand.
Food - Any small mammal, lizard or bird that ventures near enough to be caught.
Snakes will normally try to hide in a hole at the approach of a human.
They will not normally attack unless a foot is inadvertently placed on
or near the snake.
Nearly all snakes avoid man if possible. Most snakes get out of the
way and are seldom seen.
=========
http://www.habtoor.com/shindagah/march99/arabianwildlife.htm
"It is hardly surprising that snakes are found widely on the Arabian
Peninsula and in the UAE in particular given they inhabit every
continent on earth with the notable exception of Antarctica.
But what is perhaps more unexpected is the sense of fear they arouse
among people living in the Gulf and the UAE."
[...]
"...the snake breeds found in the UAE are generally quite benign animals."
[...]
"Little is said of the rich variety of snakes which survive in the
emirates diverse but harsh environment. And even less effort is
directed at dispelling the myth of the snake as some kind of
man-hunting predator.
The Contenders and Pretenders
In reality many of the snakes found in the UAE are venomous. But the
target of their vitriol is more likely to be a mouse than a man."
[...]
"Some snakes, such as the cat snake found in the hills of the Musandam
Peninsula or the hooded malpon common in most low-lying scrub desert
in the region, are mildly venomous but still pose no threat to campers
taking flight from Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
These species will still bear teeth similar to those of the harmless
variety but in between they have one or several pairs of slightly
longer fangs with a groove. It is through these grooves the slightly
toxic venom trickles into wounds inflicted on the prey by the incisive
teeth.
These snakes are also called 'rear-fanged' since the fangs are located
at the rear of the mouth and usually only come into play when the
reptile has begun to swallow its victim. The reassuring fact for
weekend Bedouin to remember is that some of these animals can be
highly toxic but not the ones found on the Arabian Peninsula."
=========
http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/196805/the.toad-head.from.najd.and.other.reptiles.htm
"One of the stories that circulates in Saudi Arabia is that there are
hooded cobras in the country. It isn't true. However, a harmless,
sand-colored mimic of another family has left more than one desert
traveler convinced that it is. This is Malpolon moilensis, sometimes
called the Arabian rear-fanged snake but perhaps better described as
the hooded Malpolon. When threatened, the hooded Malpolon sometimes
raises the forepart of its body above the ground and faces its
attacker with neck flattened and spread in an impressive cobra-like
hood. Not many people will stick around long enough to notice, of
course, but the Malpolon has a dark mark on each side of the head, at
the back, which distinguishes it from a cobra. The hooded Malpolon,
like other harmless snakes often described as "non-poisonous," does
possess a mild venom effective in numbing its prey of small rodents,
but it is not dangerous to man."
=========
Land Snakes of the United Arab Emirates and Surrounds By Bish Brown
http://www.enhg.org/articles/uae_snakes.htm
Malpolon moilensis (Arabian rear-fang snake)
One of the commoner snakes in the central and western region of the
UAE. Most often encountered during daylight hours, but in hot weather
it tends to emerge after sundown. Quite often, it can be found under
manmade debris on gravelly or semi-sandy areas. Color is variable
light or dark sandy brown with darker brown or blackish spots. If
provoked, it sometimes raises its head and the front part of its body,
flattens its neck and advances towards the adversary looking like a
cobra. It has been recorded at Buraimi 1951; Jebel Dhanna 1963; Abu
Dhabi area 1971; Sweihan road 1980-85 [Brown]. One was seen emerging
from a jerboa hole on the Madam Plain in April 1991 [Brown]. Most
commonly found as road casualties. Food taken from dead specimens
included jerboa/gerbil, sand boa and small geckoes. Maximum length
1100 mm.
=========
http://www.oman.org/pipermail/oman-l/1998-November/000665.html
c) mildly toxic/harmless back-fanged snakes:
Hooded Malpolon (Malopon moilensis)
=========
Middle East Snake Checklist
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:qSwDpm8yJYIJ:www.vaherper.com/pages/mesnakes.htm+false+cobra+Malpolon+moilensis&hl=en&start=11
Includes: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq,
Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman,
Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE,
and Yemen
"Malpolon moilensis"
=========
Photos:
http://www.venomousreptiles.org/libraries/showfilepage/83?offset=26
http://worldwidefauna.com/catalog/popup_image.php?page=home&pID=185&osCsid=297ea270e184021bf4b716d83e7ad197
http://worldwidefauna.com/catalog/popup_image.php?pID=185&page=1
http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/DOCREP/006/Y5097E/y5097e07.htm
False Cobra (Malpolon moilensis), an interesting and common colubrid
snake with orange irid.
=========
Snakes from the Abu Dhabi Region By J.N.B. Brown
http://www.enhg.org/b/b39/39_13.htm
"Three species (Malpolon miolensis),[...] belonging to the Colubridae
family, are rear-fanged snakes. These have poison injection teeth at
the back of their mouths to kill small prey. They are relatively
harmless to humans because of the difficulty of injecting poison with
rear-facing teeth."
[...]
"It is not uncommon to encounter snakes sunbathing as the day warms
up. Being cold-blooded creatures, they need to maintain temperatures
by absorbing heat from their surroundings. However, when in search of
food, they emerge at dusk or during the hours of darkness. It is then
that jerboas, gerbils and numerous lizards and beetles are most
active."
[...]
Malpolon miolensis Arabian rear-fanged Snake - Table 1 Length Measurements
Maximum length:
(The measurements given are of the largest snake found in each species
and represents total length (including tail) and the tail length from
the vent.)
107 = total cm
42 = total inches
20.0 = tail cm
8.0 = total inches
Some food animals were extracted from the digestive systems of all species.
Food Extracted from M. miolensis = jerboa, gerbil (five toes), Sand
Boa, B. tuberculatus
=========
Arabian Montpellier Snake () care sheet
http://forum.kingsnake.com/rearfang/messages/4008.html
"Anyone have any info on habitat and diet, behaviour, etc. for this
species? A friend of mine is buying one and would like to know what he
needs in preparation for the snake's arrival."
"Other species in this genus have been implicated in pretty severe
bites. So, treat it as an elapid (use hooks and don't free handle)."
"i have a 2 year old male and he's great non aggressive and is feeding
on thawed mice keep them in a dry habitat desert style they can be
picky eaters at first deworm is a must and be patient try small live
prey first there very shy snakes,ive done my freehandling crap with
them but as brian said it's risky."
========
I hope what I have provided is sufficient for your needs.
Lastly, a person who might have more information for you if needed is
Melissa Kaplan (melissk@sonic.net)
She is well-known, and very knowledgeable regarding all herps. I had
contact with her about 7 years ago, when I was raising a Giant Green
Iguana.
=========
keyword search:
hooded malpolon moilensis
Hooded Montpellier Snake
Arabian Hooded Montpellier Snake (Malpolon moilensis)
Arabian rear-fanged snake
Herpetology hooded malpolon moilensis
false cobra Malpolon moilensis
=========
Best regards,
tlspiegel |
