With its hood fully flared and venom glands primed, this spitting cobra reveals both fangs protruding over its lower jaw—an extraordinary moment captured just before it unleashes its potent spray.

Banded Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) from the Eastern Cape. The snake has formed a hood and is ready to eject venom and what is of interest in this photograph is that both fangs are protruding over the lower jaw and are exposed, ready for spitting.