Page 80 - Reptiles & Dinosaurs (Britannica Illustrated Science Library)

76 TURTLES AND SNAKES REPTILES AND DINOSAURS 77

Cobras

MONOCLED COBRA
Naja kaouthia
This Asian species has soft 11.5-16 3 feet
re an important group of snakes in Red Spitting Cobra scales. Its color varies widely feet (1 m):
(3.5-5 m)
height
the family Elapidae. Easily recognized SMOOTH Naja pallida depending on the region. when
One of 40 species of spitting
erect
A by their outspread hoods, they are well Cobra species cobras, it inhabits the Horn One of its distinctive traits
is the “monocle” on its
have smooth
known worldwide, mostly because of their use scales. of Africa, where it is widely hood, which gives it its
feared. It is distinguished by
by snake charmers. Many cobra species carry a black band below its neck. common name. KING COBRA
deadly venom. Some can even spit from several Ophiophagus hannah
This is the largest cobra, measuring
yards away. Cobras of the Naja genus are the most between 11.5 and 16 feet (3.5-5 m). It
widely recognized. They are widespread in Asia and can attack backward and raise its head
more than 3 feet (1 m) above the ground.
were only recently recognized as 11 separate species. All MONOCLE
are predatory; many eat only snakes. Made of two concentric Parietal Dorsal
rings, it is easily
recognizable because of Scales Scales
its white color.
DISTRIBUTION OF NAJA HOW TO DISTINGUISH AMONG THEM
SPECIES IN ASIA N. atra Although the Asian species look similar to one BLACK BAND
It sets this
another, they often have distinguishing colors species apart.
and scale patterns. The simplest way to identify TOP VIEW
N. kaouthia them is by the pattern on their hoods—if you
have time to look! Sublabial Ventral
Scales
Scales
Arrangement
N. philippinensis SCALES of Scales
are soft to
the touch.
N. siamensis The appearance of the scales
is a simple and easy way to
N. oxiana
classify species. The large parietal
N. samarensis
scales follow a line that usually BOTTOM VIEW
differs among species. The sublabial
scales are also widely used in
N. naja
identification. Usually there are five, Ocular Lateral
but the number varies between species.
BAND Scales Scales
N. sagittifera
is also The ventral scales are perhaps most
N.
N. sputatrix
distinctive in
sumatrana easily used for identification, because
this species.
Indian Cobra Chinese Cobra Andaman Cobra Golden Spitting Cobra they differ notably from one group to
Naja naja Naja atra Naja sagittifera Naja sumatrana another. They are always wide, cover the
entire body, and are divided into sections:
neck, belly, and tail.
270
The Hood BACK PROFILE
The scales
SPECIES OF ELAPIDS are closer
EXIST WORLDWIDE. It is believed that when cobras mechanism involves the ribs, which are together.
feel threatened or are about to widened by the muscles that lie between
attack, they spread their hoods by them. When cobras put on this display,
widening their necks in order to look they are ready to strike. Some species
larger than they actually are. The also hiss while in this position.
VENOM
is quite powerful. It paralyzes Widened Neck
the muscles in minutes; the
victim cannot flee and dies of
cardiac arrest or asphyxiation.
Closed Open
A Hood B Hood
ASIAN COBRA
Naja naja Stretched
It is the most widespread Ribs in Regular Scales
Position
BANDS species on the Indian
are usually subcontinent and one of the
found on best known. Its distinctive
the belly. Open
trait is the mark on its hood, Ribs
similar to a pair of glasses,
which gives this snake its
other name: spectacled cobra.