Spectacled cobra snake. Spectacled cobra

General characteristics and habitat

The spectacled snake, or as it is also called, the Indian cobra, comes from the asp family, a genus of true cobras. This snake lives in the countries of Central and East Asia. She meets like in the wilds tropical jungle, and on open spaces. Very often you can encounter spectacled cobras on the outskirts of cities and on farms. Her favorite places- ruins of houses, wood or stone piles, clay walls with holes.

Appearance of a spectacled cobra

The spectacled cobra reaches sizes from 1.5 to 1.9 m. Its color largely depends on the environment where the snake lives. The most common are yellow or light gray individuals. But sometimes, much less often, you can see a black snake. The belly of the spectacled cobra is light, almost white. The head has a round shape, the eyes are small, with round pupils. She has two poisonous fangs, which are located in the upper jaw.
There were dark spots on the back of the head, which created a peculiar pattern in the form of glasses. For this, the snake got its name. This image can be seen especially clearly when the cobra senses danger. She raises her body vertically by 1/3, inflates her neck like a hood, turning it completely flat. That’s when the “glasses” on the back of the head become clearly visible.

Lifespan, reproduction of spectacled cobra

The spectacled cobra lays eggs from mid-spring to mid-summer. She uses places that were previously burrows of rodents, hollows of birds or animals, inactive termite mounds and even heaps of fallen leaves. One clutch of a snake consists of 10-30 eggs. The incubation period lasts two and sometimes three months. It all depends on climatic conditions. Newborn cobros hatch with a size of 20-30 cm. From the first days they are independent and at the same time poisonous. Cubs, as well as adult snakes, can scare passersby with their hooded necks. The spectacled cobra lives for about 20 years. They begin to produce offspring in the third year of life.

How does the spectacled cobra behave and what does it eat?

The venom of the spectacled cobra is quite strong. It has the ability to paralyze the muscular activity of its victim. If a snake bites a person, the effect of the poison will begin from the first hour. But at the same time, fatalities are small (6 out of 1000). The reason lies in the fact that the spectacled cobra rarely releases poison when attacking. Usually it just bites when it sees danger. This snake is a predator; it feeds on small rodents, hunts toads and frogs, and does not even disdain other snakes.

Interesting cases from life

Very often, the spectacled cobra is used by magicians in their show programs. They keep it in a basket, and during the performance they open the lid and start playing the pipe. At this time, a snake rises from the basket and sways, repeating the movements of the musical instrument. This creates the effect of a dance. Some people believe that magicians remove fangs from cobras to protect themselves, but this is not true. Even if you tear them out, new ones will soon appear in the same place. And if the public finds out about this action, everyone will make fun of the magician and drive him away.

Have you heard about the famous cobra dance in front of the snake charmer? So, its main participant is the Indian cobra or spectacled snake(lat. Naja naja). It is she who slowly sways from side to side, as if obeying enchanting music. In fact, the snake, of course, cannot hear anything - it simply does not have ears. But why doesn't she bite the trainer?

Yes, simply because he managed to study his ward well. After all, Indian cobras, in general, are not too aggressive. They prefer to frighten the enemy with their threatening posture and hissing. Even if the offender does not leave, but rather approaches, the snake will not immediately bite him. To begin with, the cobra will simply hit an unwary person with its forehead, and only then can it use its poisonous teeth.

A street magician knows all this very well, therefore, acting carefully, he can even kiss the snake, stroke it, or perform other tricks with it. Some, however, believe that he first breaks out the cobra’s teeth, but this is not so. “Dancing” with a toothless snake means ruining your reputation. And ultimately make less profit.

However, the venom of the Indian cobra is very poisonous, so you should not put it over similar experiments. Especially if she met you in wild environment. And spectacled snakes live quite large territory. Their range extends from Central Asia, India and China all the way to the Philippines and the islands of the Malay Archipelago.

Most often, spectacled snakes are found in rice fields, in the jungle, as well as in gardens and parks. In their homeland, Indian cobras are revered by the local population. It is believed that the pattern of rings on the hood was given to them by the Buddha himself. After all, once upon a time, one of their predecessors opened her hood over the sleeping Buddha and covered him from the sun. In gratitude, he awarded all Indian cobras with such a unique protection. And it’s true: at the sight of an unusual spectacle pattern on the back, the predator gets lost and does not dare to attack from the back.

And these snakes have more than enough enemies. Especially dangerous are the agile ones, capable of deftly avoiding the attacks of the Indian cobra. Mongooses not only kill the snakes themselves, but also destroy their nests. Of course, the reptile does its best to protect its offspring, but even if it manages to bite the impudent animal, most likely it will avoid death.

The length of an adult Indian cobra is 1.5-2 meters. She has a very impressive variegated color with a predominance of fiery yellow color. A blue sheen is also clearly visible on smooth skin. In general, the color varies among different subspecies from brown to yellow-gray. Among spectacled snakes, sometimes completely black individuals are found. Juveniles are easily distinguished by their wide horizontal stripes, which disappear with age.

Indian cobras are caring mothers. They spend a long time looking for a suitable warm place for laying, and then desperately protect it. Sometimes a male can be seen next to the female. You should not approach the couple, as snakes become very aggressive during this period. As a rule, there are one or two dozen eggs in a clutch (rarely - up to 45).

The incubation period is 2.5-3 months, after which 32-centimeter snakes are born. Babies are not so harmless: they are poisonous and quite independent. They feed on small frogs and lizards. A little later they switch to mice, rats and bird eggs.

The exact lifespan of the Indian cobra has not been established. It is estimated that she can live to be 20-25 years old.

The spectacled snake (spectacled cobra) is one of the most poisonous snakes on our planet.

Snakes... they are so different. Some are completely harmless, and some are deadly poisonous. But we treat even the most harmless snake with caution, because these animals do not really inspire confidence in all their appearance. In the kingdom of snakes there are such special representatives whose appearance cannot be confused with anyone else - these are cobras. The spectacled snake, or Indian cobra, is a prime example of such animals. The spectacled cobra belongs to the reptiles of the order of scaly snakes. It is a member of the adder family, which includes the genus of true cobras.

What are the distinctive features of the appearance of the Indian cobra?

The body of this reptile grows to a length of about 180 centimeters. The head has a rounded shape and is covered with large scutes. On the head there are two small eyes with round pupils.

The cobra's teeth are small, but among them there are two most prominent fangs, which are equipped with poisonous glands. The entire body of the animal is covered with very smooth scales, which have a variety of colors: from yellowish-gray to black. Home distinctive feature The Indian cobra is considered to have “glasses” painted on its upper body. This is a pattern that not only distinguishes the spectacled cobra from other snakes, but also performs a protective function, warning the predator of a possible retaliatory strike.

Habitat of the spectacled snake population

These reptiles of the order of scaly snakes live throughout India, and are also found in Pakistan and on the island of Sri Lanka, located off the southeastern coast of the Hindustan Peninsula in the Indian Ocean.

Behavioral characteristics of the spectacled snake and its lifestyle in the wild

This type of cobra is very poisonous and dangerous. Its poison is fatal to animals and harmful to nervous system humans - it has a paralyzing effect.

The spectacled snake inhabits fields, forests, and is found near human habitation in cities and villages. He likes to settle in ruins, termite mounds, climb under tree roots, into ravines and piles of brushwood. It can also live in mountainous areas, reaching an altitude of 2700 meters above sea level.

When the Indian cobra senses danger, it expands its front ribs, increasing top part body, forming a “hood”. At this time, “glasses” appear on the back. This is the moment when the cobra is ready to jump and attack the enemy.

Indian cobra nutrition

Its daily diet includes small mammals, mainly rodents (mice, rats) and reptiles.

How does the Indian cobra reproduce?

The mating season and mating period for these representatives of the asp family occurs in January – February. After 2 months, in May, female spectacled snakes lay 10 to 20 eggs. Very rarely the number of eggs in a clutch exceeds the average. The most a large number of, noticed by researchers - 45 pieces.

Until the appearance of small cobras, the “father” and “mother” stay in pairs, carefully and carefully protecting the clutch from predators. From the moment the eggs are laid until the cubs of the Indian cobra are born, about 70–80 days pass.

Natural enemies of a poisonous snake - do they exist?

In fact, even such a malicious and dangerous predator, like a spectacled cobra, has its enemies. The main hunter of the Indian snake is. After all, everyone knows the story about the brave Riki-Tiki-Tavi? This is not the author’s invention; in nature, everything works exactly like this: a small mammalian predator deftly pounces on a spectacled snake, biting into its neck, and strikes it with lightning speed.

Spectacled cobra and man - what connects them?

In Indian culture, magical properties are attributed to these reptiles; spectacled snakes are given the most honorable places in the ancient tales and legends of India.

IN modern world these kites are used to entertain the public and tourists. Special masters who know every habit of the spectacled snake and know how to handle it are called charmers. So, these spellcasters, with the help of musical instruments, make the snake “dance”. Of course, with scientific point From the point of view, this is not a dance at all, but simply a snake’s readiness to attack. But this is where all the “magic” of the caster lies. At the very moment when the snake opens its “hood”, the trainer quickly closes it in the cage. Such entertainment with dancing snakes can be seen almost all over the world, and especially in India.

Cobra is the common name different types poisonous snakes from the Aspida family (lat. Elapidae), not united by a common taxonomic unit. Most of these reptiles belong to the genus True cobras (lat. Naja).

The name “cobra” appeared in the 16th century, when, during the “history of great geographical discoveries,” the Portuguese, moving to India, first met the spectacled snake. They named her Cobra de Capello(“snake in a hat”). Following their example, British travelers and merchants began to call all “hooded” snakes cobras.

Cobra - description and photo. What does a cobra look like?

The length of the cobra depends on the age of the reptile. These snakes grow throughout their lives, and the longer they exist, the larger they become.

From the recorded records it is known that the smallest cobra is the Mozambican cobra (lat. Najamossambica), the average length of an adult reptile is 0.9–1.05 m, with a maximum length of up to 1.54 m. The largest cobra in the world is the king cobra (lat. Ophiophagus hannah), reaching maximum size 5.85 meters and weighing more than 12 kg.

On the left is a Mozambican cobra, on the right King Cobra. Photo credits (from left to right): Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SA 2.0; Michael Allen Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0

In a calm state, cobras are difficult to distinguish from other snakes. Being irritated, they take a characteristic pose: they raise the upper part of the body high above the ground, expand the cervical and partially torso regions, creating the illusion of volume.

Thanks to elastic muscles, 8 pairs of reptile ribs expand and form the so-called hood, which distinguishes cobras from other snakes. By the way, it is thanks to the hood that cobras scare away the enemy.

The coloration of cobras is adaptive. Desert species are sandy-yellow in color, arboreal ones are greenish in color, and inhabitants of places overgrown with plants are variegated. In the tropics, where plants of various colors are found, colorful species live: coral cobra (lat. Aspidelaps lubricus) and red spitting cobra (lat. Naja pallida). Spectacled snake (lat. Naja naja) is decorated with light circles on the dorsal side of the upper body. Characteristic feature The distinctive feature of cobras is the presence of more or less pronounced transverse dark stripes, more noticeable on the neck.

From left to right: coral cobra (lat. Aspidelaps lubricus), red spitting cobra (lat. Naja pallida), spectacled snake (lat. Naja naja). Photo credits (from left to right): Ryanvanhuyssteen, CC BY-SA 3.0; Pogrebnoj-Alexandroff, CC BY 2.5; Jayendra Chiplunkar, CC BY-SA 3.0

The cobra's head is rounded in front, flat on top, covered with scutes that are absent on the cheekbones. Having no neck part, it smoothly passes into the body. The scales on the back of the reptile are smooth, and the ventral side is covered with greatly expanded light scutes.

The cobra's eyes are dark, small and unblinking, covered with a thin transparent film formed when the eyelids grow together. They are well protected from dust and moisture loss, but because of this coating, the cobra's vision is not very clear. The film of the eyes comes off along with the skin during molting.

In diurnal snakes, such as cobras, the pupil of the eyes is round.

The upper jaw of the snake is armed with fairly large (6 mm Central Asian species), sharp, poisonous tubular teeth. The cobra's teeth are not long enough, and therefore the reptiles are forced to hold the victim tightly with them in order to inflict several bites at once. According to the structure of the venomous apparatus, representatives of the aspid family belong to the anterior grooved (proteroglyphic) snakes. Their poisonous teeth are located in the front part of the narrow upper jaw, a “seam” is noticeable on their outer surface, and the poison flows not along the groove on the outside, but inside the tooth along the poison-conducting channel. The teeth sit motionless in the jawbone. Due to their convenient location and perfect venom-producing apparatus, a cobra bite is deadly.

Behind these teeth, poisonous snakes have others that replace the main ones when they are damaged. There are a total of 3-5 pairs of teeth on the upper jaw of cobras. They are sharp, thin, curved back and are not intended for tearing and chewing prey. Cobras swallow their prey whole.

The most important sensory organ for snakes is the chemical analyzer (Jacobson's organ, which has two openings on the upper palate of the reptile) in combination with the tongue. The cobra's long, narrow tongue, forked at the end, protrudes, flutters in the air or palpates nearby objects and again hides in the semicircular notch of the upper jaw, leading to Jacobson's organ. This is how an animal analyzes chemical composition everything nearby or at a distance, recognizes prey, even if a small proportion of its substances is present in the air. This organ is very sensitive, with its help the snake quickly and accurately finds a victim, a mating partner or water supplies.

Cobras have a well-developed sense of smell. Their nostrils are located on the sides of the front of the skull. They do not have an external ear, and in the understanding to which we are accustomed, cobras are deaf, since they do not perceive air vibrations. But due to the development of the inner ear, they detect even the slightest vibrations in the ground. Snakes do not react to human screams, but they perfectly notice his stomping.

Cobras molt 4 to 6 times a year and grow throughout their lives. Molting lasts about 10 days. At this time, snakes hide in shelters, as their body becomes vulnerable.

Where do cobras live?

Snakes with a “hood” are inhabitants of the Old World (Asia, Africa). They are extremely thermophilic and cannot exist where snow cover forms. The exception is the Central Asian cobra: in the north, its habitat includes parts of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In Africa, cobras are found throughout the continent. Cobras also live in South, Western, Eastern and Central Asia, on the Philippine and Sunda Islands. They prefer arid places: savannas, deserts, semi-deserts. Less common in tropical forests, in the mountains up to an altitude of 2400 m, in river valleys. Cobras do not live in Russia.

Cobras are very agile snakes; they can crawl through trees and swim. They are active mainly during the day, but in deserts they lead night look life. average speed Cobra's speed is 6 km per hour. She will not be able to catch up with a fleeing person, but this is a hypothetical statement, since cobras never chase people. A person can catch up with a snake quite easily.

What does a cobra eat?

Most cobras are predators; they eat amphibians (,), birds (ground-nesting small passerines, nightjars), reptiles (more often than others, less often), mammals (rodents), and fish. They can eat bird eggs. Some species do not refuse carrion.

Cobra breeding

Cobras breed once a year. Depending on the climate zone, in which they live, their breeding season can begin both in spring and in winter months. For example, the king cobra has a mating period in January-February. Males fight for the female, but do not bite each other. A male cobra can even eat a female if she was fertilized by someone before him. Mating is preceded by courtship, during which the male makes sure that the female is not going to dine on him (in the king cobra).

Mating of reptiles continues for an hour. After 1-3 months most of Cobras (oviparous) lay eggs, the number of which varies depending on the species and can be either 8 or 80 pieces. Only one species, the collared cobra, is viviparous. She gives birth to up to 60 live cubs at a time.

Ovoviviparous cobras lay eggs in nests they build from leaves and branches (Indian and king cobras), in hollows, and in crevices between stones. The diameter of a king cobra's nest can reach 5 meters; the snake builds it on a hill so that rainwater does not flood the nest. The temperature of 24-26 degrees Celsius required for the development of juveniles is maintained by the optimal volume of rotting leaves.

In almost all species of cobras, usually the female, and sometimes the male, guards the future offspring until they hatch. Immediately before the babies appear, parents crawl away from them so that after a long hunger strike they themselves do not eat them.

The emerging cubs are already completely similar to the representatives of their genus and species, and are also poisonous. The threat pose in cobras is an innate phenomenon, and snakes that have just emerged from eggs freeze at the sight of danger in the same way as adults. On the first day, the babies feed on the remains of egg yolks preserved after hatching. Due to their size, at first small cobras hunt only small prey, often content with insects.

How long do cobras live?

The lifespan of cobras in nature has not been established, but there are known cases of some species living up to 29 years. In terrariums they live up to 14-26 years.

Classification of cobras

There are 37 species of snakes in the world that can extend their necks into a hood. All of them belong to the Aspidae family, but to its different genera. Below is the classification of cobras according to the website reptile-database.org (dated 03/21/2018):

Family Aspidov (lat. Elapidae)

• Genus Collared cobras (lat. Hemachatus)
  • Species Collared cobra (lat. Hemachatus haemachatus)
• Genus Shield cobras (lat. Aspidelaps)
  • Species South African shield cobra (lat. Aspidelaps lubricus)
  • Species Common shield cobra (lat. Aspidelaps scutatus)
• Genus King Cobras (lat. Ophiophagus)
  • Species King cobra (hamadryad) (lat. Ophiophagus hannah)
• Genus Forest cobras, or tree cobras (lat. Pseudohaje)
  • Species Eastern tree cobra (lat. Pseudohaje goldii)
  • Species Western tree cobra, or black tree cobra (lat. Pseudohajenigra)
• Genus Desert cobras (lat. Walterinnesia)
  • Species Egyptian desert cobra (lat. Walterinnesia aegyptia)
  • View Walterinnesia morgani
• Genus Cobra (or Real Cobras) (lat. Naja)
  • Species Angolan cobra (lat. Naja anchietae)
  • Species Ringed water cobra (lat. Naja annulata)
  • Species Striped Egyptian cobra (lat. Naja annulifera)
  • Species Arabian cobra (lat. Naja arabica)
  • Species: Large brown spitting cobra (lat. Naja Ashei)
  • Species Chinese cobra (lat. Naja atra)
  • Species Water cobra Christie (lat. Naja christyi)
  • View Egyptian cobra(lat. Naja haje)
  • Species Monocled cobra (lat. Naja kaouthia)
  • Species Malian cobra, West African spitting cobra (lat. Naja katiensis)
  • Species Mandalay spitting cobra (lat. Naja mandalayensis)
  • Species Black and white cobra (lat. Naja melanoleuca)
  • Species Mozambican cobra (lat. Naja mossambica)
  • View Naja multifasciata
  • View Indian cobra, spectacled snake (lat. Naja naja)
  • Species Western spitting cobra (lat. Naja nigricincta)
  • Species Cape cobra (lat. Naja nivea)
  • Species Black-necked cobra (lat. Naja nigricollis)
  • Species Nubian spitting cobra (lat. Naja nubiae)
  • Species Central Asian cobra (lat. Naja oxiana)
  • Species Red cobra, or red spitting cobra (lat. Naja pallida)
  • View Naja peroescobari
  • View Philippine cobra(lat. Naja philippinensis)
  • Species Andaman cobra (lat. Naja sagittifera)
  • Species South Philippine cobra, Samara cobra, or Peters cobra (lat. Naja samarensis)
  • Species Senegalese cobra (lat. Naja senegalensis)
  • Species Siamese cobra, Indochinese spitting cobra (lat. Naja siamensis)
  • Species Spitting Indian cobra (lat. Naja sputatrix)
  • Species Sumatran cobra (lat. Naja sumatrana)

Types of cobras, names and photographs

• King cobra (hamadryad) (lat. Ophiophagus hannah ) is the largest venomous snake in the world. Many herpetologists believe that the concept of king cobra includes several subspecies, since this reptile is very widespread. The snake lives in Southeast and South Asia. Inhabits India south of the Himalayas, southern part China to Hainan Island, Bhutan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, Singapore, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines. Found in forests with dense undergrowth and grass cover, it rarely crawls near human habitation. The average size of an adult king cobra is 3-4 meters, with some individuals growing up to 5.85 meters in length. The average weight of a king cobra is 6 kilograms, but large individuals can weigh more than 12 kg. The adult snake has a dark olive or brown body with or without light oblique rings, and a dark olive to black tail. Juveniles are usually dark brown or black with white or yellowish transverse stripes. The snake's belly is light cream or yellowish in color. A distinctive feature of the king cobra is the additional 6 scutes on the back of the head, which differ in color.

The king cobra spends most of its time on the ground, although it successfully climbs trees and swims deftly. It is active during the day and usually hunts its own kind, eating both poisonous and non-venomous snakes(cobras, boigs, kraits, kuffiyehs, snakes), sometimes the cobra eats its cubs. Only occasionally, for variety, can he snack on a lizard.

This species is oviparous. First, the female builds a “nest” by raking leaves and branches into a heap with the front part of her body. There she lays her eggs and covers them with rotting leaves on top. She herself is placed nearby, jealously guarding the future offspring from anyone who inadvertently dares to approach him. Sometimes the father also participates in security. Cubs are born 50 cm in size, with shiny skin, as if tied with a yellow-white ribbon.

The venom of the king cobra is very strong: they even die from its bite. A person bitten by a king cobra can die within 30 minutes. The reptile actively warns approaching enemies by emitting a high-pitched whistling hiss, adopting a “cobra pose”, but at the same time rising 1 meter higher than other cobras and not swaying from side to side (royally). If a person who notices the snake’s threatening pose freezes in place, the cobra will calm down and crawl away. The snake is impatient and not attentive only if someone is near its nest.

• Spectacled snake (Indian cobra) (lat. Naja naja ) lives in Asian countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, South China.

The length of the snake is from 1.5 to 2 m, weight reaches 5-6 kg. She has a head rounded at the front, without a noticeable cervical interception, passing into a body covered with smooth scales. The Indian cobra is quite brightly colored, although the color and pattern of populations living in different places can vary greatly. There are yellow-gray, black and brown individuals. The ventral part can be yellowish-brown or light gray. Young individuals are decorated with dark transverse stripes, which first fade with age and then disappear completely.

A distinctive feature of the Indian cobra is a white or milky pattern on the upper side of the body, which becomes noticeable only when the hood is opened - these are ring-shaped spots reminiscent of eyes or glasses. This adaptation helps the cobra avoid being attacked by predators from behind.

• Central Asian cobra (lat. Naja oxiana) found in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan. It takes refuge among stones, in rodent burrows, in gorges, among sparse vegetation, near rivers, in the ruins of man-made buildings. It also lives in the depths of dry deserts.

This poisonous reptile reaches 1.8 meters in size and is distinguished by the absence of a pattern in the form of glasses on the dorsal side of the neck. The color of the dorsal part of the cobra varies from dark brown to light beige, the belly of the snake is yellowish with dark transverse stripes, narrower and brighter in young individuals. As the reptile matures, the stripes on the abdominal part are replaced by spots or specks. The species does not form large groups, and even in spring it is not possible to detect more than 2-3 individuals in one area. In spring, under favorable conditions, Central Asian cobras hunt during the day. In hot areas they are noticeable only in cool mornings and evenings. In autumn they can be seen much less frequently, but at this time of year they are active during the day. The cobra hunts birds, amphibians, small rodents, and reptiles (lizards, boas, etc.). She also eats bird eggs. Mating season Serpents hatch in the spring, and in July the cobra lays 8-12 eggs 35 mm long. In September, juveniles 30 cm in size emerge from them.

The venom of the Central Asian cobra has a pronounced neurotoxic effect. An animal bitten by it becomes lethargic, then develops convulsions and quickens breathing. Death occurs as a result of paralysis of the lungs. But a cobra rarely bites, only when in a desperate situation. At first, she always takes a warning, demonstrative pose, hisses and gives the attacker the opportunity to leave. Even if the attacker does not retreat, she first makes a false bite - she quickly rushes and hits the enemy with her muzzle with her mouth tightly closed. This way she protects her valuable teeth from possible breakage and saves the poison for real prey.

• Spitting Indian cobra (lat. Naja sputatrix) lives in Indonesia (on the Lesser Sunda Islands: Java, Bali, Sulawesi, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Komodo, Alor, Lomblen).

She has a wide head with a cervical intercept, a short muzzle with large nostrils and rather large eyes. The body color is uniform - black, dark gray or brown. The hood is light on the ventral side. Average length snakes - 1.3 m, cobra weighs slightly less than 3 kg.

The snake throws poison towards the attacker at a distance of up to 2 meters, trying to get into his eyes. The poisonous teeth of a spitting cobra have a specific structure. The external opening of their venom-conducting channel is directed forward, not downward. The reptile injects venom using strong contractions of specialized muscles. The jet hits the target very accurately. The reptile uses this method of defense only for defense against large enemies. Cobra venom that gets into the eyes causes clouding of the outer membrane of the eye and in this way stops the attacker. If your eyes are not rinsed with water immediately, complete loss of vision may occur.

• Egyptian cobra, gaya, or real asp (lat. Naja haje) lives in northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (in Yemen). Lives in mountains, deserts, steppes and near human settlements.

A real adder grows up to 2.5 meters and weighs 3 kg; its expanded “hood” is much narrower than that of the Indian cobra. The color of the dorsal side of the cobra is uniform - dark brown, red-brown, gray-brown or light yellow, with a light, creamy ventral side. Several broad dark stripes on the neck become visible when the snake assumes a warning posture. Young reptiles are brighter and have patterns of wide light yellow and dark brown rings.

Gaia is active during the day, the cobra's diet consists of small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. The snake can swim and climb trees.

• Black-necked (black-necked) cobra (lat. Naja nigricollis) known for the ability to accurately shoot poison into the eyes of an attacker. The snake lives in the southern tropical zone Africa - from Senegal to Somalia and to Angola in the southeast.

The body length reaches 2 meters, the weight of the cobra reaches 4 kg. Coloring ranges from light brown to dark brown, sometimes with indistinct transverse stripes. The neck and throat are black, often with a transverse white stripe.

When irritated, a cobra can shoot venom up to 28 times in a row, releasing a portion of 3.7 mg. It accurately hits its target, but sometimes confuses shiny objects with its eyes - trouser buckles, watch dials, etc. The venom of the black-necked cobra does not cause inflammation, but if it gets into the eyes, it will cause temporary loss of vision. By studying the process of releasing venom in this type of cobra, scientists found that during the contraction of special muscles, the entrance to the reptile’s trachea also closes. This ensures a directed flight of the jet, which is not displaced by the air flow.

The cobra hunts small rodents, lizards, reptiles and birds. Since it lives in a hot region of the planet, it is active more often at night, and during the day it hides in tree hollows, termite mounds, and animal burrows. This is an oviparous animal; a clutch can contain from 8 to 20 eggs.

• Black and white cobra (lat. Naja melanoleuca) lives in Central and West Africa: from Ethiopia and Somalia in the east to Senegal, Guinea and Gabon in the west, from Mozambique, Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the south to Mali, Chad and Niger in the north. Lives in forests, savannas, and mountains up to an altitude of 2800 meters above sea level. Can climb trees.

The ventral side of the body of this cobra species is yellow with black stripes and irregularly shaped spots scattered over it. Adults are dark brown or brown with a gray metallic sheen and a black tail. Young reptiles are dark-colored with light transverse thin stripes. The length of the cobra often reaches 2 meters; individuals of 2.7 m are less common.

The reptile does not spit poison. In nature, a snake lives for about 12 years; a record lifespan of a cobra of 29 years has also been recorded. The reptile is active during the day and feeds on fish, rodents, amphibians, birds, monitor lizards and other lizards. Its venom ranks second in strength among African snakes after the venom of the Cape cobra. She lays up to 26 eggs in animal burrows and tree hollows. Juveniles 35-40 cm long appear after 55-70 days.

• Cape cobra (lat. Naja nivea) lives in Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana. Prefers desert, steppe and mountain landscapes, often settling near bodies of water.

This is a poisonous snake, the lower side of the neck of which is often decorated with a transverse brown stripe. The color of the cobra can be amber yellow, light yellow, bronze, brown, copper, solid or with spots. The length of its body varies from 1.2 to 1.5 m, although there are individuals measuring up to 1.8 m or more. In addition to live prey, it eats carrion. It hunts during the day, but on hot days it is active in the evenings; it can crawl into people’s homes in search of and. Its poison is considered the most powerful in Africa. The female lays up to 20 eggs.

• Ringed water cobra (lat. Naja annulata) is a poisonous animal with a small head and a dense body, up to 2.7 m long and weighing 3 kg. The average length of an adult reptile varies between 1.4 and 2.2 m. The dorsal side of the reptile is yellowish-brown, covered with transverse light stripes. Diving to a depth of 25 meters, she catches fish and eats mainly only them. Less commonly it feeds on frogs, toads and other amphibians. Can stay under water for up to 10 minutes.

The ringed water cobra lives in Cameroon, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Angola. The snake's habitats include rivers and lakes, where it spends most of its time, as well as nearby areas: shores and savannas overgrown with bushes and trees.

• Collared cobra (lat. Hemachatus haemachatus) separated into a separate genus due to some important distinctive features. Unlike other cobras, it does not have any other teeth behind its poisonous teeth. It's not very long snake, reaching a maximum of 1.5 m, with a dark brown or black dorsal part, along which intermittent oblique transverse stripes are scattered. Darker varieties of the reptile are often found, but the head and lower neck of this reptile are always completely black, and the belly has transverse black and yellowish-cream stripes. Almost completely black species always have a light stripe on the neck. The hood of this poisonous snake quite narrow.

The collared cobra lives in South Africa(Zimbabwe, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland). Here, for its ability to spit venom, it was nicknamed “spui-slang” - a spitting snake.

• Monocled cobra (lat. Naja kaouthia) is an oviparous snake that is found in China, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and is also believed to be found in Nepal. The reptile swims well, settles both on plains, in forests and fields, and in mountainous areas, creeps into pastures and rice plantations, can live near cities and villages. The animal is active both during the day and at night, but prefers to hunt at night.

There is only one light circle on the hood of a poisonous snake, and not two, like other spectacled snakes. The average length of the reptile is 1.2-1.5 m, the maximum length is 2.1 m. There are individuals with creamy-gray, yellow and black colors. The monocle cobra has a rather nervous and aggressive character.

• Siamese cobra (lat. Naja siamensis) lives in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. According to some reports, it is also found in Myanmar. The reptile settles in lowlands, hills, plains and forests, sometimes approaching human habitation.

The average size of a poisonous snake is 1.2-1.3 m, the maximum is 1.6 m. Within the species, there is variability in the color of reptiles. In eastern Thailand, Siamese cobras are uniformly olive, greenish or light brown. In the center of the country there lives a population with contrasting longitudinal or transverse black and white coloring in the form of alternating stripes. In western Thailand, this type of cobra is black in color. The pattern on the hood is also somewhat different. It can be V-shaped or U-shaped.

The Siamese cobra is oviparous and active at night.

• South African shield cobra (lat. Aspidelaps lubricus) - inhabitant of the south of Angola, Namibia and the Cape Province of South Africa.

This is a venomous oviparous snake, 0.45 to 0.7 m long, with a rounded head covered in front with large triangular shields. The cobra's head is red with two black stripes, one of which runs from the nostrils to the top of the head, branching to the eyes, the other, transverse, crosses the first at neck level. The body of the cobra is pink, yellowish or orange, crossed by transverse black rings.

The South African shield cobra is a nocturnal animal that lives in burrows or under rocks, preferring semi-deserts and sandy areas. The cobra's food is small vertebrates, mainly reptiles.

The spectacled snake or Indian cobra belongs to the family of asps and is included in the genus of true cobras. The reptile lives in Central Asia. These are India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. The snake can be found in impenetrable jungles and open areas. It rises to a height of 2 thousand meters above sea level. Often found on the outskirts of cities and in farms, as it feeds on rats and mice.

The head is round, the eyes are small, the pupil is round. Poisonous fangs are located on the upper jaw. The length of the reptile reaches 1.7-1.9 meters. The maximum length reaches 2.4 meters. A notable feature of the snake is that when in danger, it raises a third of its body vertically and spreads its upper cervical ribs to the sides. At the same time, the neck expands significantly and becomes flat. And on the stretched skin at the back, a pattern clearly appears. In its outline it resembles glasses. Hence the name “spectacled”.

The body color of the reptile is quite variable and depends on its habitat. The main background varies from light gray to brown. It even comes in black. The belly is light with a slight yellowish tint. Young snakes have dark stripes located transversely on their bodies. They disappear with age.

Reproduction and lifespan

This type refers to oviparous. Eggs are laid between April and July. To do this, abandoned termite mounds or rodent burrows are selected. There are from 10 to 30 eggs in a clutch. The incubation period lasts 60-70 days. The hatched snakes reach a length of 20-30 cm. They are already poisonous and immediately begin independent life. Sexual maturity occurs in the 3rd year of life. IN wildlife The spectacled snake lives up to 20 years.

Behavior and nutrition

The Indian cobra has a very strong poison, which paralyzes the victim's muscles. In humans, symptoms of poisoning appear within 15 minutes to 2 hours. It all depends on what part of the body the poisonous fangs are embedded in. But fatal outcome occurs only in 6 cases out of 1000. This is explained by the fact that, when defending itself, the snake does not always release poison. In most cases, it is limited to a normal bite. The reptile feeds on rodents, toads, frogs, birds and other types of snakes.

The formidable reptile is very popular among magicians and fakirs. It is representatives of this species that they use in their performances. The spectacled snake is kept in a wicker basket, and when people gather around, the lid is removed and the poisonous reptile rises from it. It is believed that spellcasters pull out poisonous fangs to protect themselves. But that's not true. In place of the removed fangs, new ones grow very quickly, and poison is produced in any case. In addition, after the performance, spectators often demand to show their fangs. If they are not there, the fakir will be ridiculed.

These reptiles are kept in captivity. In principle, there is nothing wrong with this, since the Indian cobra never bites unless necessary. If you don’t show aggression towards her, she will behave calmly. A snake lives in a terrarium. The temperature in it is maintained at 28-30 degrees. Humidity corresponds to 60-80%. The diet consists of rodents, frogs, toads and lizards. This species is highly respected in India. In Hindu mythology, this reptile is considered a powerful deity. The fearsome reptile is worshiped during the Nag Panchami festival.