April 17, 2023
By Sonakshi Kandhari
Cobras belong to a group of snakes called elapids. A few characteristics that are true to a cobra include its hood, the dance it performs before a snake charmer and the hollow fangs found at its mouth. Let’s step into their world and learn about a few of the world’s largest and deadliest cobras.
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Also called the yellow cobra, it is South Africa’s largest snake. It lives in varied habitats such as savannahs, deserts and semi-deserts. It is a medium-sized snake and might be found in shades of yellow, brown and red. Hunting during the day, it feeds on mice, lizards and other small mammals.
Called an Indian spectacled cobra, an Asian cobra, and a binocular cobra. It has a black, spectacle-shaped design with a white outline on its hood. This species is the prime cause of snake bites in India. Its venom causes human paralysis, respiratory failure and cardiac arrests. This snake is even closely associated with Indian mythology.
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Don’t be surprised if you find one slithering along in the pyramids, but this snake is predominantly found in Africa. About 8.5 metres long and black in colour, this cobra is quick when defending itself. Thriving in the deserts, chasing rodents and their bite is fatal for a human being.
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Named after the ‘monocellate', or single eye on its hood, this snake is popular in Southeast Asia. Its coloration ranges between yellowish, brownish and blackish shades. Feeding on a diet of rodents, fish and frogs, these snakes are found slithering in agricultural areas, particularly at dusk.
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One of the world’s largest cobras, its height can extend as much as 10 feet. It is most often glossy black in colour with a white marking around its mouth, and its underside and belly are both white. The white-lipped cobra and black-and-white cobra are its other names.
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Spotted in Sub-Saharan Africa, this cobra is 2 metres long and is comfortable hunting for its prey both during the day and at night. It coils itself around trees and rodents and mice are their staple diet. Their venom causes skin irritation, and if it comes in contact with the eyes, it can lead to permanent blindness.
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Taiwan Cobra is its other name. Because of pollution and hunting activities, this cobra is listed as vulnerable. One can spot the shades of black, white, grey and yellow on its body. Known for their alertness, cornering this snake is extremely difficult. An encounter with this snake can be a threat to life.
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This cobra is either single-coloured (dark brown or yellow) or patterned (band patterns) on its scales. It is 6 feet long and nurtures itself by feeding on rodents. These snakes can be spotted in grasslands or places with a semi-desert climate. Their venom results in tissue damage, respiratory paralysis and, if left untreated, even death.
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Indonesian Cobra and Komodo Spitting Cobra are its other names. One can identify this cobra with its pale-skinned belly and pinstripes along its sides and neck. Spotting them is hard because they are nocturnal in nature. It expands its hood when threatened, extending as high as 6 feet.
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The world’s largest cobra, with a length ranging between 9 and 12 feet, can be found on the ground, in trees or even in water. It may seem strange, but a king cobra feeds on other cobras as well. The venom of a king cobra is powerful enough to kill 20 people or even an Indian elephant. It’s the only snake to build a nest for its young, and can lay as many as 40 eggs.
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