King cobra - description of where it lives, features

To this day, it is not known for what reasons the cobra received a “royal” subscript. From some sources it can be concluded that the name came from the impressive appearance of the individual in question. Dimensional characteristics also play an important role, since cobras grow to 5 meters or more in length. Compared to other members of the family, these snakes stand out for their bloodthirstiness. They eat like-like, ruthlessly prey on rodents and birds.

Description

1. Represented individuals belong to the aspid family. However, along with this, snakes form their own royal variety and the same kind. During danger, the reptile’s thoracic ribs move apart, a peculiar hood forms, exceeding the rest of the body’s overall features.
2. Reptiles are able to perform such a trick due to the presence of folds on the skin. The skin itself sags from the side, and then instantly swells, scaring off the enemy. At the top of the head there is a plane, darkened and small.
3. The snake got its name from the Portuguese, who arrived in India in the 16th century. Initially, the reptile was called her a snake with a hat, but later this name was attracted to all representatives of the genus. Specialists studying these reptiles call them Hannahs. At the same time, reptiles are divided into several groups.
4. The first are Indonesian, which are otherwise called island. They are reddish, with implicit spots and interspersed in the neck. There are thin light stripes on the same part. The second - Chinese, or as they are also called - continental, have wide stripes throughout the body.
5. If you look at the pigmentation of the trunk of young animals, you can immediately understand which of the varieties the snake belongs to. Young island individuals are famous for their brightened stripes, which are adjacent to the shields on the abdominal part and are spread over the body.
6. A group of cobras of a mixed type is found. There are no clear boundaries to which segment such a snake belongs. It is a mixture of island and continental individuals. The boundaries are so blurred that even professionals find it difficult to identify the type for sure.

Lifestyle

1. The life span of the individuals in question is truly amazing. If a cobra does not collide with a natural enemy, then it may well live more than 30 years. Moreover, the growth of the body in reptiles continues throughout life. Such a snake can molt up to 6 times per year.
2. The process of skin change itself takes about 10 days. During this period, the animal’s body is under tremendous stress. In addition, the cobra becomes very vulnerable. She tries to hide in a warm shelter. Therefore, often snakes crawl to a person in a house or other construction objects.
3. An interesting fact remains that such individuals crawl on the ground, constantly hiding in caves or burrows. In addition, snakes climb trees. Those who saw the king cobra claim that it swims very poorly.
4. It's no secret that the individuals in question are able to stand upright. At this point, snakes engage a third of their body. With such a hang, the cobra does not constrain movement in any way. Such actions allow you to dominate other cobras that are nearby.
5. The winner is the candidate who was able to rise above all and peck the enemy at the crown. Humiliated cobra simply forced to take a horizontal position and defeat.

Enemies

1. There is no doubt that the individuals in question are extremely poisonous. But do not forget that they are not immortal.In the wild, the king cobra has several natural enemies. Among these, one can distinguish mongooses, wild boars, meerkats and serpent eagles.
2. As for the mongooses and meerkats, they do not leave a single chance to the reptiles of salvation. However, such animals do not possess innate immunity against the deadly venom of cobras. Predators simply rely on their own reactions when hunting snakes. Only in very rare cases do predators lose.
3. If the mongoose notices the cobra, it immediately enters the excitement. He develops hunting instincts. Such a predator does not miss the opportunity to immediately attack reptiles. The bottom line is that cobras have a slightly inhibited reaction. At this time, the mongoose begins to act on proven tactics.
4. He jumps at her and immediately bounces. After that, the animal again rushes to the snake. Due to a series of false lunges, in the end, the mongoose pierces the head of the cobra with its sharp teeth. As a result, the snake simply does not have a chance.
5. However, man remains the most ruthless predator. He destroys reptiles in huge numbers for fun. As for the young King Cobra, they are constantly hunted by larger reptiles.

Nutrition

1. King cobras received the second scientific name "snake eaters". An unusual cry is characterized by the fact that the individuals in question have a special gastronomic predilection. Cobras without a twinge of conscience eat their own kind.
2. Most often, in the place of the victims are the boogie, snake, kufi, kraits, pythons and cobras. Sometimes large lizards, and even lizards, are included in the diet of the presented reptiles. Only in rare cases can cobras feast on their own cubs.
3. During hunting, such individuals behave very differently, in comparison with everyday life. Cobra begins to rapidly pursue prey. She grabs the victim by the tail, and then strikes her with fangs and deadly poison.

King cobra is one of the most dangerous snakes on earth. Her poison is deadly. When hunting, she is forced to pierce her fangs into the victim several times. At the same time, the snake keeps prey all this time. The cobra is not prone to gluttony, so it goes hunting quite rarely.

Video: King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)