Cobras biting themselves when attacked. Why?

[nolagurl]

I read in a book of mine that certain cobras (and maybe other snakes?) bite themselves when being attacked. What provokes this behavior?


p.s. The book didn't answer my question. That's why I'm posting this here. :-P

[MsTT]

As far as I can tell, they don't mean to bite themselves. Some crazy buggers bite literally anything that touches their head or neck, even if it's their basking log that they are being dragged over as I'm tailing them out of the cage. That would include their own coils.

And this is what can happen to a cobra that bites itself. Bad scene all around. http://snakegetters.com/demo/haje/index2.html

This doesn't always happen; in some species there don't seem to be any particular consequences of self envenomation or cagemate envenomation.

[nolagurl]

I read about self/cagemate envenomation. Pretty interesting. They can die if a LOT of venom is injected however. I'd quote my book directly but it's downstairs and I'm not. :-)

[Gregg M]

It pretty interesting how most venomous snakes are ressitant to their own venom......... Back when I had a few cobras one of my black spitter bit himself on the tail........ The very tip of the tail had to be amputated but he did not die as a result....... And not too long ago my largest female gaboon bit one of my males on his face......... There was nothing more than a bit of sweeling ang alot of blood but the male recovered and even ate a few days after the bite........ I guess the male was pretty damn lucky being that even if the female did not inject venom, she still has fangs that are an inch and a half long........ Also if a vital organ is hit with venom or a large fang there is a better chance of death......

[cobraman]

I have to agree with Tanith on this one.