Dentitional phenomena in cobra revisited : spitting and fang structure in the Asiatic species of Naja (Serpentes : Elapidae)

Abstract

We compare the fang morphology of the Asiatic cobra species, with particular reference to the occurrence of spitting behavior. The two nonspitting species, Naja naja and N. oxiana, have unmodified fangs with large venom discharge orifices; the other seven species, which have all been reported to spit, show varying degrees of reduction in discharge orifice size. There is considerable variation in the degree of fang modification among the species of spitting cobras, and only a small reduction in discharge orifice size seems to enable spitting. Some species show geographic variation in fang structure, and N. philippinensis shows sexual dimorphism in discharge orifice size.