Indian Cobra

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Indian Spectacled cobra

Indian cobra, Naja naja

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Naja
Species:	N. naja

Binomial name

Naja naja
Linnaeus, 1758

The Indian Cobra or Spectacled Cobra (Naja naja) is a species of venomous snake native to the Indian subcontinent. Like other cobras, the Indian cobra is famous for its threat display involving raising the front part of its body and spreading its hood. On the rear of this hood are two circular ocelli patterns connected by a curved line, evoking the image of spectacles. An average cobra is about 1 meter in length and rarely as long as 2 meters (6 feet). ^[1] The spectacle pattern on the hood is very variable as also the ground colour of the snake.^[2]

Binocellate Cobra

Indian cobras are oviparous and lay their eggs between the months of April and July. Females lay from 12 to 30 eggs in a underground nest and the eggs hatch 48 to 69 days later. Newborns cobras measure between 8 and 12 inches (20-30 cm). Newly hatched cobras have fully functional venom glands.

The Indian cobra's celebrity comes from its popularity as a snake of choice for snake charmers. The cobra's dramatic threat posture makes for a unique spectacle as it appears to sway to the tune of a snake charmer's flute. Snake charmers with their cobras in a wicker basket are a common sight in many parts of India. The cobra, of course, is deaf to the snake charmer's pipe, but follows the visual cue of the moving pipe and it can sense the ground vibrations from the snake charmer's tapping foot.

In the past Indian snake charmers also conducted Cobra and Mongoose fights. These gory fight shows in which the snake was usually killed are now illegal.^[3] The mongoose is not known to have any immunity to the venom, but its agility and thick fur helps overcome most snakes.

Cobras normally feed on rodents and their normal habitat includes open forest and farmland. They are however also able to thrive in cities, living on rodents in the sewers and underground drains. Oriental Ratsnakes are often mistaken for cobras, however these are much longer and can easily be told apart by the stronger ridged appearance of their body.

In India, the spectacled cobra is much respected and feared, and even has its own place in Hindu mythology as a powerful deity. The Hindu god Shiv is often depicted with a protective cobra coiled around his neck. Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, is usually portrayed as reclining on the coiled body of Sheshnag, the Preeminent Serpent, a giant snake deity with multiple cobra heads

There are numerous myths about cobras in India including the idea that they mate with ratsnakes.^[4]

[edit] Venom

The Indian Cobra's venom contains a powerful post-synaptic neurotoxin. The venom acts on the synaptic gaps of the nerves, thereby paralyzing muscles, and possibly leading to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. The venom components include enzymes such as hyaluronidase that cause lysis and increase the spread of the venom. ^[5] Symptoms of cobra envenomation can begin from 15 minutes to two hours after the bite, and can be fatal in less than an hour.^[6] The Indian Cobra is one of the Big four (most dangerous poisonous snakes of India) and a polyvalent serum is available for treating snakebites by these snakes. Despite its fearsome reputation only 10% of the bites in humans result in death.