Statistics indicate that people are more familiar with the cobra snake family than with any other species or subspecies in the poisonous or non-poisonous serpent categories. Tropical lands and desert areas make the favorite habitat for the cobra snake, which explains why this snake is widely spread in the arid lands of Asia and Africa. These serpents have got so very famous by the threatening body posture they get when sensing danger: a cobra snake, which has a regular symmetrical head otherwise, will flatten the head and rear it up in a menacing way when it considers itself in danger. Another peculiarity the cobra snake owes its reputation to is the snake charming tricks performed by Indian serpent breeders.
The spitting cobra snake is one of the most peculiar variety as it not only has a deadly bite but it also sprays venom in the eyes of prey and aggressors alike. The contact with the eyes can cause not just pain but blindness too, therefore, in case your eyes get disclosed to cobra snake venom, washing with plenty of water could be the only way to stop permanent crippling. The King cobra snake also stands apart in this large serpent family by its feeding specificity, since it eats almost only other snakes, with mice and small birds also falling prey to its venom.
The King cobra snake sets another legend in terms of size: it can get up to seventeen feet long, which makes it the the biggest poisonous snake in the world. The most recent discovery of a cobra snake species was made in 2003, when a strange cobra snake was identified at a London Zoo as belonging to an illegal shipment of exotic pets. According to DNA studies this new species resembles the red spitting cobra snake but shows major differences in terms of genes. It seems to come from the region between Sudan and Egypt, which is why scientists gave it the old name of this geographicposition, Nubian spitting cobra.
Though highly dangerous when it senses a threat, a cobra snake will not attack if you leave it in peace. If compared to the strike of a rattlesnake, the cobra isn't too active when attacking, and many bites prove blank without envenomation. A study conducted on Malaysian people bitten by a cobra snake indicates that only 55% of the bites involved venom release too. Yet, the same report indicates a mortality rate of 10% for people bitten by a cobra snake, since the toxic compounds released in the blood of the prey are devastating the nerves and causing respiratory deficiencies within thirty minutes from the occurrence of the bite.
Finding hiding places is part of snakes' nature, they are pretty solitary creatures that do not harm anyone unless they sense danger. For instance, many people know there could be snakes in their gardens, but haven't seen any. If you take gardening as a hobby it is possible to discover the skins they leave behind, otherwise they are so camouflaged in the background and keep their distance from humans that encounters are very sporadic. Dull colors like tans, khaki yellow or green are the basic colors of garden snakes, both humans and large animals like pets will scare them. The only problem is when you have poisonous garden snakes, then you are in trouble, and most often, professional assistance is required to capture and relocate them in wilderness.
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