National Symbols Of India

National Reptile

King Cobra- National Reptile of India

Having the length of approximately 5.6 m or 18.5 ft., King Cobra distinguishes itself in the world for being longest venomous snake worldwide. Found in Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia like Indian forests, to countries from the Philippines to Indonesia, it is typical snake species which usually survive through killing other snakes or vulnerable animals. Although it is a cobra but it is still not part of the Naja or true cobra group due to it having own genus group. As king cobra it is one of the most dangerous snakes that is found in the world whose cultural significance equally remains interesting.

Description

Average length of king cobra is 3 to 4m or 9.8 to 13ft., and usually weighs approximately 6 kg or 13 lb., in normal cases. London Zoo housed longest ever king cobra whose length was approximately 18.5 to 18.8 ft., or 5.6 to 5.7m. It remained captive there till World War II occurred. Royal Island Club in Singapore had caught heaviest ever wild specimen of king cobra in 1951 whose total weight was 12 kilograms or 26 lb. with length measuring to 4.8m or 16ft. New York Zoological Park had other captive specimen in 1972 that was heavier than one mentioned above at 12.7 kilograms or 28lb. weight and length measuring to 4.4m or 14ft. Various factors including localities they stay determine length and mass of these snakes. Although too large in size, king cobras remain alert and maintain fastness.
Usually this snake’s skin is colored olive-green, tan or in black. Cross bands down the length on its body are pale yellow and faint too. Pale yellow or cream colored belly of this snake ease its smooth scaling. Often mistaken for a banded krait, its juveniles are black but shiny with narrow yellow bands with only distinction of hood going completely stretchy. Mature cobras have the massive head that looks bulky too making them similar to the rest snakes but they do have capability to expand jaws to swallow the small snakes or rest preys. Front portion of its mouth has two tiny fixed fangs which supply venom into preys it catch as if using needles for the hypodermic act. Male cobras are larger sized with extra thickness unlike any female cobra. Twenty years are the average lifespans of wild king cobras.

There are 15 rows in the king cobra’s body with dorsal scales in the central portion. Such ventral scales in the males are 235 to 250 but in such numbers increase to 239 to 265 in the females. Each row though witnesses subcaudal scales of either paired or single with common numberings 83 to 96 and 77 to 98 in male and female cobras respectively.

Distribution & Habitat

Mainly South Asian and Southeast Asian countries are homes to king cobra but it has also been found scarcely in southern regions of East Asia especially China’s southern portions. The areas like the densely highland forestry regions with lakes and streams are the places where cobras are commonly seen. Fast deforestation cases have impacted on the population of cobras that have dropped dramatically over the period. CITES lists it into the Appendix II Animal group.

Behavior

Forked tongue of king cobra receives chemical information like the rest snakes do. It functions through picking up such scent particles just to move them in unique sensory receptor or Jacobson's organ which is placed in the mouth roof. Such features are very much similar to that of smell sensing features of any human being. The moment a meal’s scent is sensed this snake starts skimming tongue to measure the location of any prey for which tongue’s twin forks act like stereos. Other features of king cobra are best intelligence, earth-borne vibration tracking sensitivities and strong eyesight which can easily notice even any moving prey at a distance of approximately 100m or 330 feet.
Once venom finishes, king cobra takes next step to swallow prey which constantly struggle for freedom but toxins leave powerful impact so victims are easily digested. Flexible jaws of king cobras are similar to that of rest snakes as their jaw bones and pliable ligaments are well connected so that lower jaw bone could independently move in all circumstances. That is why king cobra takes no time to swallow whole prey easily and at times large sized prey’s bigger than its head as well get digested post swallowing.

Diet

As Greek-derived generic name of king cobra explains as Ophiophagus it is snake-eater whose main diet is none other than rest snakes from rat-snakes to tiny sized pythons besides other snakes belonging to the venomous category. Even some snakes from true cobra or genus Naja group are its preys. It can also eat more venomous krait family snakes. In case situation becomes tough and cobras don’t find sufficient preys then it can hunt rest animals like birds, lizards and various types of rodents too. Even birds and the rodents become its prey if there is scarcity of its food. It uses muscular body to catch large rodents though such cases are not common. As it has slow metabolic rate it might stay idle for months once it takes huge meals. Rat-snakes are commonest of preys on which king cobra depend, and while searching them cobras might come close to the human settlements on many occasions.

Defence

If provoked then king cobra species may start escaping attempt quickly as it always tries to avoid all sorts of confrontations coming in its way. It might become too much aggressive e if provoked. In a time cobras face any concern, the changes are seen in its appearance from rearing up anterior portion that could be one-third and keeping neck extended to show fangs so does it continue the louder hissing. Any sudden movement or closely approaching objects might irritate cobras easily. King cobra continue moving ahead even while raising its body for attacks which indeed become misjudging scene for people assuming them being safe although they were not. Its single attack might cause multiple bites and adult cobras keep hold of preys once biting. This snake tries to escape at the first instance although this snake is too much dangerous. It attacks only when doesn’t find a way to move. Being an enigmatic species makes cobra less exposed to humans for it usually inhabiting in densely forested areas which are not too much populated henceforth its encounter with humans are rare. Snake charmers are only victims of its bites who usually come close to it to catch for the snake performances.

Upon encountering the natural hunters especially mongoose, king cobra makes an attempt to fly as it remains aware of the resistance level of counterparts. Mongoose emits a hiss besides forming exclusive cobra hood in such situations to maintain strikes with the contrived closed-mouth in defense. These are the steps that prove impactful because such preys are comparatively dangerous than the rest and are in the large shape which could be killed by a comparatively smaller mammal so easily.

Best option for defense from any cobra attack if facing incidentally is to use prudence in such situations for that remove a shirt or take hat to throw it on ground area to keep backing to create confusion for it.

The Growling Hiss

It is ironical but notable that king cobra hisses create misconceptions due to its pitch being low unlike rest snakes create. That is why its hisses are often considered growls instead of hisses for confusion. Rest snakes have broad-frequency span hisses which could range from even 3,000 to 13,000 Hz, and in few cases till 7,500 Hz dominant frequency but growls of king cobra differ completely and hardly crosses 2,500 Hz. Its dominant frequency reaches up to only 600 Hz which is definitely lowest and looks like that of human voice so not more than that. According to researches done to judge comparative anatomical morphometric analysis unique findings have come into limelight like tracheal diverticula discovery whose role to maintain low-frequency resonating chambers in this dangerous snake and its most favorite prey mangrove rat snake are similar and nothing but growls to maintain misguidance.

Reproduction

Uniqueness of king cobra from the rest snakes is that its female groups always maintain the dedicated parenthood attitude. Female cobras take initiative to create her nest to keep eggs safely besides taking a step to rub leaves or debris into the knoll for proper deposit so that nest is maintained till young hatch is groomed. As an incubator a female cobra deposits 20 to 40 eggs for mounding. Her major concern remains on keeping vigil of eggs through staying with them for which she takes measures to protect the mound keenly. She also displays alarms for any sort of threat felt especially if large sized animals come close to it. This process continues for 60 to 90 days until things take a new turn and eggs get incubated at 28 °C or 82 °F steadily inside mound. Upon realizing through its natural instinct that eggs would hatch the sooner the female cobra literally leave the place and start searching prey for her as she doubts to eat her own children in hunger. Average length of baby king cobras are 45 to 55 cm or 18 to 22in and whose venom is as powerful as that of adult cobras. They remain alert and aggressive and are bright colored.

Spotting the Indian King Cobra

India’s national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are the places where Indian king cobra can be seen easily. It can be seen spitting venoms for defense against enemies, raising the body and or other common ac ts like spreading hoods in the national parks like:-

• Jim Corbett National Park
• Manas National Park
• Sunderbans National Park
• Namdapha National Park

Cultural Significance

Female snake charmers usually use king cobras in nearby Burma. Such charmers use tattooed pictograms of three types for that they use ink and snake venom mixture. As the myths prevail such steps are taken to protect charmers from this dangerous snake on all stages. Once show ends the charmer kisses this snake on its head top.

As believed in India, Nepal, India and various other South Asian countries, the king cobra has power to keep exceptional memory. The myth prevails that in case of a king cobra is killed photograph of its killer remains imprint in the eyes of a murdered snake which its partner sees and makes it the point to take revenge from the killer for which its hunt continues. An attempt was made to prove this theory for which a cobra was captivated and brought into an enclosure for free stay with small openings. While large chunk of people passed before it but this snake remained at the full height to concentrate on its captor only instead of looking at rest. It is one such myth that when cobras are killed in India, crushing of head, burning or complete damaging of eyes are given more importance.