What primary effect does the venom delivered via a bite from the Zebra Spitting Cobra have on the victim's system?
Neurotoxic action on the nervous system
The venom composition injected through a defensive bite by *Naja nigricincta* is characterized by potent neurotoxins, both pre-synaptic and post-synaptic in nature. These complex proteins specifically attack the nervous system by interfering with the critical signaling pathways that direct muscle function. When nerve signaling is disrupted, muscles cease to receive the necessary commands to contract, leading directly to paralysis. Although the onset of systemic effects might not be instantaneous compared to some extremely fast-acting neurotoxic species, the ultimate life-threatening consequence, if left untreated with antivenom, is the paralysis of the muscles responsible for respiration, leading to respiratory failure.
