Poisonous spit. Red spitting cobra (Naja pallida) Appearance and nutrition

Basically, representatives of the genus true cobras (Naja) are called cobras, but some species belong to other genera of the same family:

Shield cobras (Aspidelaps)
Water cobras (Boulengerina)
Collared cobras (Hemachatus)
King cobras (Ophiophagus)
Forest cobras (Pseudohaje)
Desert cobras (Walterinnesia)

These are the most recognizable and widespread snakes and are called "cobras", although there are several other genera whose members are called by the same name.

Cobras feed on rodents, amphibians, and birds, but, like other adders, they readily eat snakes, including poisonous ones.

Spitting cobras are capable of “shooting” poison into the eyes of the enemy. The black-necked cobra can fire up to 28 “shots” in a row, releasing about 3.7 mg of venom each time. As a result of contact, redness, severe pain, and temporary or even permanent blindness occur due to clouding of the cornea. When hunting, these cobras kill their prey with a bite, like other venomous snakes.

The tubules in the teeth of these snakes bend at a right angle and open outward on the front surface of the tooth, and the excretory openings are more rounded than those of non-spitting snakes and are shifted closer to the base of the tooth, so that the venom, having passed through them, “shoots” forward. To do this, the snake, with the help of special muscles, sharply compresses the poisonous glands.

Asian cobras can also spray venom, but the venomous apparatus is different, and the shooting mechanics are different: having collected venom in its mouth, the snake blows it forcefully through a hole in the mouth. lower jaw, through which he usually sticks out his tongue

Once, during the colonial occupation in India, the British decided to reduce the number of cobras that had bred, for which they announced a reward for their heads. The local population rushed to destroy the snakes, thereby reducing their number, but then, on the contrary, switched to breeding them for easy money. After the rewards were cancelled, the Indians released the remaining cobras into the wild, causing the snake population to only increase from its original value. Since then, the expression “cobra effect” has been attached to any actions aimed at solving a problem, but as a result making it worse.

From the bite king cobra Even an elephant can die, but here’s what’s interesting: cases of human death from a cobra bite are extremely rare (although up to 50 thousand people die from bites of other snakes in India every year). This smart reptile saves poison for hunting and, trying to scare away a person, makes “idle bites”.

The king cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world - individual individuals can reach five and a half meters in length.

When confronted on the same territory, male king cobras can engage in ritual fights with each other, but they do not bite each other. The winning male remains near the female. Moreover, if the female has already been impregnated by another male, there are often cases when the winning male attacks the female and kills her, after which he devours her. If it is not possible to completely absorb the killed female because of her big size, he burps it. The female can also attack the male and kill him

Among snakes, along with the king cobra, only the Indian rat snake is capable of making sounds through breathing movements.

One bite from a large spitting cobra contains enough venom to kill 20 people.

The cobra poses an undoubted danger to humans and animals, but unlike viper snakes it always warns of its presence. Only in case of an immediate threat does the cobra make several lightning-fast attacks towards the enemy, one of which, as a rule, ends with a targeted bite.

Hood - hallmark all cobras The hood is the part of the body in which the ribs move apart under the influence of special muscles, dramatically changing their shape. In a calm state, the cobra is almost no different from many other snakes.

Shield cobras are burrowing reptiles

Forest or woody ones lead predominantly wood image life in the forests of Equatorial Africa.

Water cobras feed almost exclusively on fish.

Among the Indian population, spectacles Indian cobra enjoys special reverence; many legends and tales are associated with it. In addition, snake charmers use it in their performances.

Among the Egyptians, the Egyptian cobra was considered a symbol of power, and on this basis its image adorned the headdress of the pharaohs. The Egyptian cobra, like the Indian one, is often used by snake charmers in their street performances, which are popular with the local population and tourists.

When a freshly caught collared cobra sits in a zoo, not yet accustomed to annoying visitors, the viewing glass is completely “spitted on” with a thick layer of poison. However, in addition to such active defense, the collared cobra often uses a passive technique, turning over on its back and pretending to be dead. The same method of defense has been developed by some colubrid snakes. Unlike true cobras, the collared cobra does not lay eggs but gives birth to live young.

The Central Asian cobra does not wait to be stepped on. Seeing the approaching danger, she takes a defensive pose and makes a loud hiss. This is usually enough to convince a person and even a sheep that the path is closed here. But even if the enemy comes close, the cobra does not always use its poisonous teeth, but sometimes first inflicts a false bite, sharply throwing the front part of the body forward and hitting the enemy with its head and closed mouth. With this technique, she tries to scare away without using her main weapon, thus protecting her teeth from possible breakage. Therefore, being bitten by a cobra in natural conditions practically very difficult.

There is a known case when one black and white cobra, kept in a zoo, lived 29 years, sharing with the anaconda the record for longevity among snakes.

Chinese or Taiwanese cobra

Monocleated cobra

Burmese spitting cobra

Indian or spectacled cobra

Central Asian cobra

Philippine cobra

Andaman cobra

Samara cobra or Peters cobra

Indochinese spitting cobra

Javan or Indonesian spitting cobra

Golden or Sumatran spitting cobra

Angolan cobra

Banded Cobra

Arabian cobra

Senegal cobra

Egyptian cobra

Cape cobra

Ringed water cobra

Congolese water cobra or Christie's cobra

Black and white or forest cobra

Burrowing or multi-bordered cobra

Big spitting cobra

Mozambican spitting cobra

West African or Malian spitting cobra

Zebra spitting cobra (Naja nigricincta nigricincta)

Black spitting cobra (Naja nigricincta woodi)

Black-necked cobra

Nubian spitting cobra

Red spitting cobra

South African shield cobra (Cape coral) Aspidelaps lubricus lubricus

South African shield cobra (Cola) Aspidelaps lubricus cowlesi

Common shield cobra

Collared cobra

King cobra or hamadryad

Eastern or golden tree cobra

Western or black tree cobra

desert cobra

The Great Brown Spitting Cobra is one of the largest cobras, measuring 2.74 meters in length. This is the largest spitting snake.

External signs of a brown spitting cobra

The color of the covers differs in different shades Brown. There are individuals of light gray and mustard color. The belly is light, sometimes with small streaks or spots, and the throat is dark brown.

There are 17 - 25 median rows of scutes running along the body. The black-necked cobra is smaller, up to 1.5 meters.

Spitting cobras live in Asia. The great brown and black-necked spitting cobra species are found in Africa. They are capable of spitting poison, hitting the enemy's eyes at a distance of 60 centimeters with incredible accuracy.

The venom of spitting cobras is delivered through curved channels in the teeth that open outward on the front surface of the tooth, and the toxin exit holes are round and located close to the base of the tooth. In this case, the poison is easily “shot” forward.

At the same time, the snake sharply compresses the poisonous glands with special muscles. The spitting cobras include the large brown spitting cobra, black and white cobra, collared cobra, black-necked cobra, and red spitting cobra.

The Central Asian cobra also “shoots” venom, but the toxic substance is ejected through a hole in the lower jaw, from where the tongue protrudes.

Feeding spitting cobras

Spitting cobras feed on toads, lizards, and frogs. They hunt birds, small rodents, small snakes and even the most poisonous snakes - adders and kraits.

Spitting cobras inject powerful venom into the victim's body. They sink their teeth into the prey and do not immediately release it; in this case, the poisonous substance is effectively introduced and the victim is quickly immobilized.

How do cobras spit?

How do cobras spit, and what explains the sniper’s accuracy in hitting the victim’s eyes? But during the study, it was found that snakes are not capable of spitting poison; they eject the toxic substance in thin streams from the holes of their poisonous teeth during a sharp muscle contraction. Bruce Young, an employee at the University of Massachusetts, risked his life to conduct experiments with spitting cobras.

The scientist provoked the snakes to attack, and a special device mounted on the head and connected to a computer made it possible to observe the movements of the cobra.

To prevent the poison from getting into the experimenter's eyes, they were protected with special glasses. The movements of the spitting cobra were filmed with a video camera. It took more than 100 spits to understand how the cobra's reaction to its prey reaches amazing accuracy. A spitting cobra releases venom 200 milliseconds ahead of time to the desired point at which the victim's eyes will appear after such a minimum time. It’s just that the snake manages to get ahead of the movement of its prey.

In addition, before releasing venom, a spitting cobra begins to rotate its head, contracting its muscles and releasing a toxic substance. The poison is sprayed as an aerosol in the form of a cloud and necessarily affects both eyes.

High-speed filming during the study and electromyography of the snake’s muscles confirmed that this method of “spitting” venom maximizes the likelihood of a hit. On the other hand, the toxic substance is not wasted, but ends up in the victim.

Spitting cobras are deadly poisonous snakes

Spitting cobras shoot venom into their eyes to blind their prey. In addition, the toxic substance causes severe pain.

For people, the venom of any type of cobra is dangerous; its degree of effect on the body varies.

The toxic secretions of the Central Asian cobra are weaker; death from its bite in the absence of an antidote occurs within a few hours or even days. The venom of the king cobra is potent and leads to the death of a person within 30 minutes.

Reproduction of spitting cobras

Spitting cobras mate in January–February. There are usually 6-15 eggs in a clutch. In April or May, the female lays eggs in cracks in the soil, in the free space between stones, in heaps of grass or leaves. The female does not leave the clutch and guards. Female Indian and king cobras make a special nest. In this case, reptiles collect plant debris in a heap with the front part of their body, then lay eggs. Males and females protect the clutch from predators until the offspring appear.

During the breeding season, reptiles are very aggressive and will attack any creature that approaches the nest. Young spitting cobras initially hunt small prey. Their body produces too little poison. Young cobras have striped skin coloration.

Keeping spitting cobras in captivity

Brown spitting cobras are adapted to survive in captivity. For keeping it is better to take reptiles not from environment, and buy breeding young cobras. Their color is yellow, but they are not infected. In addition, young snakes adapt faster and have a small hood.

The terrarium is selected with dimensions of 120 x 50 x 50 centimeters. The temperature is set at about 25-280C, the maximum reptiles can withstand in nature is 34-380C. A mixture of river sand and peat is used as a substrate.

For decoration, pieces of sandstone, tree cuts, houseplants in pots. Water is provided in a small drinking bowl.

The female lays 6 - 15 eggs in early summer. A box with vermiculite is installed in the terrarium for propagation. Eggs develop at a temperature of 28 - 30 degrees C and 80% humidity. At low humidity, the eggs are sprayed with water. After 2 months, young snakes appear.

Cubs molt for the first time at the age of 9 - 12 days. Then the snakes can be fed. In captivity, food is limited to small rats and mice. You can give young locusts.

IN winter time The amount of food is limited because digestion in reptiles slows down in cold weather. Fans of exotic reptiles should know that brown cobras are venomous, insidious snakes. When keeping this species, you should always wear a protective mask to protect against poison from spitting!

Conservation status of the great brown cobra

The big brown cobra is facing extinction. This species of reptile lives in the coastal regions of Kenya, where the territories in which the snake lives are intensively developed. At the same time, people simply physically exterminate cobras, leaving no chance of survival.

Too much fear of poisonous snakes interferes with reasonable action. And experts know that the big brown cobra is a supplier of valuable snake venom. At one time, 6.2 milliliters of a toxic substance weighing 7.1 grams is taken from the cobra. It is used to prepare medicines.

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More than once this species has appeared at our auctions, many times it has been written that only one person has died from red cobras in 2011, but there are many victims of well-aimed hits in the eyes, but now let’s talk a little about the content.

Where to get? From nature, as an option, red cobras adapt quite well in captivity and quickly get used to it, fortunately there is nothing wrong with this, their hood is modest, and there is nothing special to show anyway. Ideally, you should wait a bit and acquire only breeding specimens, fortunately this is not a problem now, the price is 150 euros or more, the babies are inconspicuous yellow, but healthy and cute for that reason))

The species is quite small, from 0.7 to a meter with a cap, maximum 150 cm, so there is no need to fence large terrariums, they feel great in 20-30 liter cages, kids can sit in cages with a newspaper and a drinker in 5 liter cages. Absolutely any substrate can be used, decorations are at your discretion.

The temperature regime is standard, during the day the warming up point is up to 30-odd degrees, the background is room temperature, about 25-28 degrees, at night it is room temperature, the humidity is low.

The main thing is that during any manipulations with red cobras, do not forget to wear a protective mask against spitting poison!

Feeding. The diet of red cobras in nature is varied; they eat all living things, from small mammals to birds, eggs, lizards and snakes, in captivity everything is limited to rats and mice of suitable sizes. Particularly picky kids may start eating locusts.

Reproduction. These are oviparous snakes (6-15 eggs per clutch, sometimes up to 24). Pairs are planted in April after a two-month winter with night temperatures dropping to 18 degrees. Then a nest box with vermiculite is installed in the pregnant female. The eggs are incubated general principle at a temperature of 28-30 degrees, after 60 s extra days The babies will begin to hatch, and in another 12 days the first feeding will take place.

What can I add from myself... I want such a cobra!))) from the category of Must have for poison lovers))) At least for the sake of color! True, variability also affected them slightly, not all of them grow bright, many darken to a black color)))

Good luck with your content, the album on the pallids is below)

Appearance and nutrition

Red spitting cobra ( Naja pallida) - a small snake, reaching a length of 70 cm to 1 meter (maximum 1.5 meters).

The diet of red cobras in nature is varied; they eat all living things, from small mammals to birds, eggs, lizards and snakes; in captivity, everything is limited to rats and mice of suitable sizes. Particularly picky kids may start eating locusts.

Venom of the red spitting cobra

Spitting cobras got their name from their ability to shoot venom into the eyes of an enemy at a distance of up to three meters with incredible accuracy.

In fact, the snake does not spit out venom - the release of the “deadly cocktail” from the fangs in the form of thin streams is caused by sharp muscle contractions. It turned out that the cobra anticipates the movements of the head and, accordingly, the eyes of the victim, spits “in anticipation” 200 milliseconds - at a certain point where the victim’s eyes will be after this insignificant period of time. In addition, for greater effect, a second before releasing the poison, the snake began to rotate its head using the muscles of the head and neck and continued to move, releasing the liquid. Accordingly, the poison is sprayed in the form of intersecting ellipses, most likely hitting the enemy’s face, and in both eyes at once. The experiment also showed that the cobra does not release its venom as a stream, but rather as an aerosol.

Reproduction

Red spitting cobra- oviparous snake (6-15 eggs per clutch, sometimes up to 24). When incubated at a temperature of 28-30 degrees, after more than 60 days the babies hatch, and after another 12 days they begin to feed.

What are spitting cobras? What kind of life do such reptiles lead? What do they eat and how do they reproduce? Is it possible to keep a spitting cobra in captivity? All this will be discussed in our publication.

Kinds

There are several varieties of snakes, which differ in their ability to defeat the enemy with toxic substances at a distance. These include the following reptiles:

• Big brown spitting cobra.
• Central Asian red cobra.
• Collared cobra.
• Black-necked cobra.
• Black and white cobra.

Spitting mechanism

Spitting cobras, photos of which can be seen in our material, shoot venom through curved channels that are located in the teeth. Such holes can open at the first need. The toxic substance is produced from the channels due to the contraction of special muscles on the snake's neck. This is where the glands are located that replenish the supply of toxic substances.

After leaving the cobra's mouth, toxic substances can reach a target at a distance of up to three meters. As the results of special studies show, such snakes have the ability to accumulate venom, the volume of which is sufficient for several dozen “shots” at a time.

The described mechanism is observed in African spitting cobras. The Central Asian variety is also capable of shooting poison over a considerable distance. However, in this species, the toxic substance shoots out from a special hole under the tongue, in the area of ​​the lower jaw.

The main purpose of the defense mechanism is to get toxic substances into the eyes of the enemy, be it an animal or a person. Having detected danger, the cobra raises its head and keeps the target in sight. Then a spit occurs, which is directed slightly above the enemy’s head. Having reached its destination, the poison leads to clouding of the cornea of ​​the eye in a short time. The result is often complete blindness of the victim. Moreover, toxic substances irritate the skin, causing destruction of its structure.

Sometimes spitting cobras make mistakes. But this doesn't happen often. The reason is usually a good reaction from the potential target. In some cases, cobras mistake shiny elements on a person’s clothing for eyes.

Nutrition

Spitting cobras, photos of which are presented in the article, often hunt small reptiles. The prey of such snakes are toads and lizards. Occasionally, small rodents, birds, and other snakes become victims of poisonous creatures.

Having captured prey, the spitting cobra injects a potent toxin into its body. The snake does not immediately release the victim. The predator continues to hold onto the potential meal until it stops showing the slightest signs of life. After immobilizing its prey, the spitting cobra swallows it whole.

Reproduction

Peak activity mating season for spitting cobras, it occurs in the middle of winter. After mating, the female carries eggs, which she lays around April. Up to 15 embryos can form at a time. Eggs are laid in places where an abundance of dry leaves and grass is concentrated. Sometimes reproduction occurs in the spaces between large boulders. Some species build a nest using plant debris for this purpose.

Spitting cobras never leave their clutches unattended. During this period, such reptiles become especially aggressive and dangerous to others. They fearlessly attack anything Living being, which dares to approach the masonry site. At the same time, snakes do not pay any attention to the size and character of the enemy.

Spitting cobras are able to survive in the most atypical conditions. Often such snakes are caught in natural environment habitats for captivity.

For such reptiles, a fairly spacious terrarium is required, measuring at least 120 centimeters in length, as well as 50 centimeters in width and height. Of particular importance when keeping cobras is maintaining optimal temperature regime. The air in the terrarium should warm up to about 25-28 o C. In this case, the animal must be provided with plenty of drink, which is served in a flat container.

The substrate can be a mixture of peat and sand. To give the cobra the opportunity to hide, stones, driftwood and tree branches are placed in the terrarium, and live plants are placed in pots.

Relationship with a person

These days, spitting cobras face considerable danger. Such reptiles often occupy territories where economic activity Human. Fearing deadly poison, people deliberately exterminate these snakes, without thinking about whether such actions are rational in a particular situation.

Among other things, people hunt such animals. The goal is to obtain snake skin, as well as valuable poison. The latter is an indispensable ingredient for the production of antidotes and medications.