cobra

Special Features:
The name ‘cobra’ comes from Portuguese language, shortened form of ‘cobra de capello’ which means ‘snake with hood’ (and from Latin ‘colubra’ = snake.)

As the name suggests, the most striking feature of this snake is the hood which is the loose skin behind the snake’s head extended by the neck ribs.  Cobras show this hood to look more dangerous when threatened by other animals.

Cobras are one of the most venomous (poisonous) snakes in the world.

The king cobra is the largest of all cobras and of all the venomous snakes.

The ‘spitting cobra’ spits (= sprays, ejects) its venom into the eyes of the other animals, including humans, so that they go blind and leave it alone, or, in case of small animals, it can eat them up easily!

The water cobra catches fish.

Cobras are eaten by people in some parts of the world; the skin is also used for making beautiful and expensive purses, belts, etc.

The Chinese have been using cobras as food, and their venom in medicine since ancient times.

Snakes in general and cobras in particular have been worshipped in Asia since ancient times.  In ancient Egyptian civilization, cobras were given a special place in their religious rituals.

Snake-charmers showing snakes swaying (= moving slowly from side to side) to their flute, called a ‘pungi’ or ‘been’, music by the roadside used to be a common sight until recently, and are still shown in some remote parts of Asia, especially in India.

However, like all snakes, cobras have no ears like other animals do; they just sway to the movement of the charmers hands!

Cobras are bred on farms for their venom and skin, and as tourist attraction.