A cobra (pronunciation ) is a venomous snake of family Elapidae, of several genera, but particularly Naja. A snake is an elongate Reptile of the suborder Serpentes Like all reptiles snakes are covered in scales. The Elapidae, or elapids are a Family of venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world including the Indian Ocean and A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Naja is a Genus of venomous Elapid Snakes They are the most recognized and most widespread group of snakes commonly known as (Non-cobra elapidae include the taipans, brown snakes, tiger snakes, fierce snakes, coral snakes, mambas and sea snakes. The taipans are a Genus of large fast highly venomous Australasian Snakes One species the inland taipan (also known as the Pseudonaja is a Genus of venomous Elapid Snakes native to Australia. Tiger snakes are a type of venomous serpent found in southern regions of Australia, including its coastal islands and Tasmania. The Inland Taipan ( Oxyuranus microlepidotus) also known as the Small Scaled Snake and Fierce Snake, is native to Australia and is the most Venomous The coral snakes are a large group of Elapid Snakes that can be divided into two distinct groups New World coral snakes and Old World MAMBA stands for Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Asset, a Counter-battery radar operated by the Royal Artillery. For sea snakes in mythology and cryptozoology see Sea serpent. ) Cobras generally inhabit tropical and desert regions of Asia and Africa.
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Appearance and description
The cobra's most recognizable feature is its hood, a section of its neck which it can flatten outwards in a threat display to appear larger. Since snakes do not have a sternum they can stretch their ribs outwards which expands the hood. The hood can also carry distinctive markings. The hood of the Asian cobra is proportionately much larger than that of the king cobra and is usually yellow to brown, with a black-and-white spectacle pattern on top and two black and white spots on the lower surface. Most snakes can flatten their necks to some degree; cobras are only more adept. Cobras come in varying colors from black or dark brown to yellowish white. Elapidae cannot fold their fangs down, as Viperidae can, so their fangs are generally shorter. The Viperidae are a family of Venomous snakes commonly referred to as vipers, although the term viperids is more specific and distinguishes them from Most cobras are quite large, reaching on average 1. 2–2. 5m (3. 9-8. 2 ft) long.
Cobra is the Portuguese (and old Galician) common name for a snake; it came from late Latin colobra (from the classical Latin coluber, colubra). Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. When Portuguese navigators arrived on the coasts of Africa and South Asia in the 16th century, they named the cobra "cobra-capelo", or "hood-snake"; from this compound, the name entered Spanish, French, English, and other European languages. Today, mainly in Brazil, cobras are known basically as najas. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld
Among the most notable attributes of the Cobra is their powerful venom.
Types of cobra
The most common cobra is the Adrian Spectacled cobra Naga, native to the Indian subcontinent and associated with snake charming there. This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. Snake charming is the practice of apparently hypnotising a Snake by simply playing an instrument The Black cobra, found in Pakistan and North India, is generally considered to be a sub-species. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Geography Northern India lies mainly on continental India and a very small part of it lies on the Indian peninsula
The second most common cobra species is the Monocled cobra, Naga kaouthia, widespread in Asia. Monocled Cobra Naja kaouthia is a species of Cobra that has a circular mark behind the hood unlike that of the spectacled Cobra
In addition to a deadly bite, the Spitting cobra can incapacitate larger would-be predators by spraying venom into their eyes. Spitting cobra refers to any one of several Species of Cobras that have the ability to spit or eject venom from their mouth when defending themselves against Eyes are organs that detect Light, and send signals along the Optic nerve to the visual areas of the brain This is extremely painful and can cause permanent blindness, but if washed out promptly rarely causes permanent damage.
The King cobra is ophiophagous; it feeds almost entirely on other snakes, even venomous ones, although it sometimes preys on small rodents and birds. The King Cobra ( Ophiophagus hannah) is the world's longest venomous Snake, with a length that can be as large as 5 Ophiophagy ( Greek "snake eating" is a specialized form of Feeding or alimentary Behavior of animals which hunt and eat A snake is an elongate Reptile of the suborder Serpentes Like all reptiles snakes are covered in scales. Rodentia is an order of Mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously-growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. It will only attack humans if provoked or in other extreme circumstances that threaten its survival. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus If not treated, a king cobra's bite can kill a person in just half an hour. To kill, killing or to have killed means to cause the Death of a Living Organism. The term person is used in Common sense to mean an individual Human being. King Cobras may reach up to 5. The King Cobra ( Ophiophagus hannah) is the world's longest venomous Snake, with a length that can be as large as 5 2m (17. 1ft) in length, making them the largest venomous snakes in the world. A venomous snake is a Snake that uses modified saliva venom, usually delivered through highly specialized teeth such as hollow fangs for the purpose of Prey "The world " is a proper noun for the planet Earth envisioned from an Anthropocentric or Human Worldview, as a place
In 2003, a new species of cobra was discovered at London Zoo in a shipment of illegal exotic pets. When zoo scientists thought they had a new species they brought in Dr. Wuster who confirmed their belief. Although bearing a resemblance to the Red Spitting Cobra DNA tests confirmed that it is in fact a new species altogether. Studies indicated that it originated from an area of Egypt and Sudan formerly known as Nubia. This article is about the region in Africa for other uses see Nubia (disambiguation. The new species, Naja nubiae or Nubian Spitting Cobra, has since bred at London Zoo.
Cobra venom
The snake will only attack a human if provoked or in other extreme circumstances which threaten its survival. Furthermore, for a dangerously venomous snake, the cobra's strikes are quite slow when compared to the extremely rapid strikes of such species as rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous Snakes, genera Crotalus and Sistrurus. Additionally, not all bites result in envenomation and in the case of the Cobra the amount of "blank" strikes may be quite high: in one series of recorded bites in Malaysia only 55% of strikes have included envenomation. Cobra bites are fatal in about 10% of human cases. However, as with any venomous snake, any bite from a cobra should be treated as a potentially fatal injury and medical attention should be sought immediately after the bite occurs. As with all elapids, the venom of cobras is highly neurotoxic and dangerous. The Elapidae, or elapids are a Family of venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world including the Indian Ocean and Neurotoxicity occurs when the exposure to natural or artificial toxic substances which are called Neurotoxins alters the normal activity of the Nervous system in Therefore, any cobra bite must be regarded as life-threatening and professional medical assistance should be immediately sought. Early symptoms of a bite include ptosis, diplopia , dysphagia, and dizziness, followed by progressive respiratory muscle weakness, ultimately requiring endotracheal intubation. Ptosis is an abnormally low position (drooping of the upper Eyelid. Diplopia, commonly known as double vision, is the simultaneous Perception of two images of a single object Dysphagia should not be confused with the similarly pronounced Dysphasia, a language disorder Many different terms are often used to describe what is collectively known as dizziness. In Medicine, intubation refers to the placement of a tube into an external or internal orifice of the body Cobra venom is a postsynaptic neurotoxin. Chemical synapses are specialized junctions through which Neurons signal to each other and to non-neuronal cells such as those in Muscles or Glands A neurotoxin is a Toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells ( Neurons, usually by interacting with Membrane proteins such as Ion channels It works by stopping the acetylcholine molecules in the diaphragm muscle from interacting. The Chemical compound acetylcholine (often abbreviated ACh) is a Neurotransmitter in both the Peripheral nervous system (PNS and Central In Chemistry, a molecule is defined as a sufficiently stable electrically neutral group of at least two Atoms in a definite arrangement held together by Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the Without treatment death from respiratory failure may occur as early as 30 minutes after being bitten. Respiratory failure is a medical term for inadequate Gas exchange by the Respiratory system.
Standard treatment involves the use of antivenin. Antivenin (or antivenom or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings Additionally, it is possible to support bite victims via mechanical ventilation, using equipment of the type generally available at hospitals. In Medicine, mechanical ventilation is a method to mechanically assist or replace spontaneous breathing when patients cannot do so on their own If too far away from a hospital, doctors prefer the "suck and spit" formation. Such support should be provided until the venom is metabolised and the victim can breathe unaided. If death occurs it takes place approximately 6 to 12 hours after the cobra bite. Cause of death is respiratory failure or suffocation caused by complete paralysis of the diaphragm. Respiratory failure is a medical term for inadequate Gas exchange by the Respiratory system. Paralysed redirects here For other uses see xx Paralysed (disambiguation Paralysis is the complete loss of Muscle function For other types of diaphragm see Diaphragm. In the Anatomy of Mammals the thoracic diaphragm is a sheet of Muscle
Rhythm
Indian "saperas" claim to spectators that they can charm a cobra by playing music. The sapera plays a flute, swaying it from side to side and the cobra sways in time with the music, apparently hypnotized. Hypnosis is often thought to be a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility with diminished peripheral awareness In fact, the cobra is not reacting to the music as snakes do not have hearing. What prompts it to perform is the snake charmer's clever manipulation of the cobra's natural tendencies. When suddenly thrust into the open air from the darkness of the basket, the snake rises up and spreads its hood, its normal reaction to a threat. It sees the swaying pipe and mistakes it for another snake. That error, together with the charmer's movements in time with the music, holds the snake's attention and follows the movement of the instrument. As the charmer moves the pipe, so the cobra bobs its head.
However, the following must be taken into consideration: The New Encyclopaedia Britannica (1987, Vol. 27, p. 159) states: “This supposition is incorrect; snakes are sensitive to some airborne sound waves and are able to receive them through a mechanism that serves as a substitute for the tympanic membrane. . . . Moreover, while the sensitivity of most snakes to the middle of the low-tone range is below that of most other types of ears, it is not seriously so. In a few snakes, however, the sensitivity is about as keen as in the majority of lizards with conventional types of ear openings and middle-ear mechanisms. ”
References
External links
- The Asiatic Cobra Systematics Page
- Richard Mastenbroek's Elapid Pages, captive care information
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