Snakes

California King Snake

California king snake varieties are no different from other snake sub-categories or group in the unhinging of the lower jaw. Without this anatomical advantage, the snake couldn’t swallow a prey that is usually larger than the predator’s diameter. In terms of behavior, California king snake prefers hidden corners in solitary natural background where the possibility to encounter larger predators is lower. It feeds on small animals like frogs, lizards, rodents and even little birds. The only period when California king snake looks for the company of its species mates is winter when these creatures hibernate together in large numbers.

California king snake specimens are known for their eating each other or feeding even on venomous snakes. This is a non-poisonous species that loops around, constricts and then squeezes the prey until it suffocates it. As for the consume of poisonous snakes, in the past scientists believed that snakes are generally immune to venom, now discoveries indicate not immunity but high tolerance towards it. Biting could be a problem for the encounter of a California king snake and a human, but the snake will only attack if if feels threatened.

Among the flaws of California king snake, poor eyesight and low quality focus could be counted; these small problems are due to the anatomical position of the snake’s eyes on the lateral parts of the head. If the prey is smart enough to stay still in the presence of this California king snake, it has higher chances to remain unspotted. Movement is the element that makes hunting possible for the snake but it is worth saying that this creature has a very well-developed sense of hearing as it can identify low frequency sounds and various vibrations. Definitely such abilities make hunting a lot easier.

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Black Snake Moan

The cast of Black Snake Moan committed to such an extent to this project that significant parts of their lives had to get adapted to the requests of the script: thus, Samuel L. Jackson got to spend around six hours a day, for half a year to only learn to play blues guitar. Then, another relevant example here is the sickly look that Christina Ricci got by eating only food with low nutritional value and walking about almost naked just to get into the character’s skin better. A controversy issued due to the partisan marketing of the film, which was considered pretty offensive to women.

All in all, when it comes to the reception of Black Snake Moan, the film was not by far the hit everyone expected. Yet, positive reviews were also passed, but more reserved than the bitterness of the criticism. The reproach often directed towards the market film promotion was that it encouraged promiscuity and it targeted college boys audience instead of aiming at more complex public categories. Hence, Christina Ricci was one of the film actors who took a stand against this form of advertising, claiming it unpardonable and without precedent in her film career.

A better outcome resulted from the release of the Black Snake Moan soundtrack collection at the beginning of 2007. The songs feature several artists, with three tracks being performed by Samuel L. Jackson himself. The album includes a total of seventeen tracks covering both classic and modern blues; the compilation sold pretty well, as Blues fans were actually eager to get a new approach to their favorite music style. Critics also had a very positive attitude, much better than the rest of the critical appreciations passed on the film, Black Snake Moan.

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Texas Snakes

Pit vipers are the most numerous poisonous Texas snakes: they include sub-groups like the rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths. Each group has distinct features that make the specimens easy to recognize and thus to avoid. Copperheads are the Texas snakes recognized by the red-brownish cross bands on their bodies, while cottonmouths are green, olive or solid black. When threatened the latter will open their mouths and hiss in a menacing way. The white tissue inside of their mouths is the features that gave the name of cottonmouth to the species.

Last but not least, the rattlesnake is the noisiest of Texas snakes; as the name suggests, this snake will rattle its tail as a warning to potential aggressors to stay away. If you mind your business and avoid them, rattlesnakes will never get closer to you in order to attack. The only pit viper that sends no warning message is the copperhead that attacks whenever it senses danger. This is the reason why from all the Texas snakes, the copperhead remains the trickiest and most unpredictable. Then, we should mention coral snakes as one other group living in the arid parts of the American south.

Corals belong to the same snake family as the Asian and African cobra; though most venomous snakes have elliptical pupils, corals distinguish themselves by their roundness. These Texas snakes are slender usually less than two feet long with a pattern consisting of black, yellow and red rings alternated. Though there are other harmless Texas snakes with similar coloring, they have almost never red in the marking. If you are traveling in the south Texas woodlands, on coastal plains or in canyons, you can often come across.

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Snakes

There are more than 2,700 snakes varieties spread all over the world in temperate and warm climates; the only part of the globe where snakes cannot live is Antarctica. Snakes vary in size from a few centimeters to more than nine meters in the case of the anacondas or the pythons. Venomous snakes are a minority in this huge reptile family, but their toxic poison is so powerful that it could kill a human being within a few minutes. According to studies, the history and origins of snakes go back to the Cretaceous period, some 150 million years ago, when snakes are assumed to have evolved from a lizard and adapted to a different living environment.

Some modern species still carry primitive distinctive marks, this is the case with pythons and boas that still have vestiges of hind limbs, which only point to a past when snakes were more lizard like than they are today. Snakes or serpents are present in all cultures, carrying symbolic meanings and being widely represented in artistic form. Worshiped or hunted down as evil creatures, snakes surely have a fascination on human mind; yet, modern attitudes have changed towards snakes particularly under the emphasis of the ecological movements that insist on the importance of these creatures for the balance of ecosystems. And they couldn’t be more right.

There are many aspects in the life of snakes that fascinate scientists and indicate that there are more things to learn about the many existing species. Thus, it is interesting to study how the patterns on the body of snakes differentiate between individuals even within the same species. Then, their sensitivity to vibrations, the incredible sense of smell and even the perception of low frequency sounds make snakes pretty out of the ordinary. The same amount of scientific respect is due in terms of anatomical programing by the presence of the infrared sensitive receptors that allow pit vipers for instance to detect the warmth of the prey’s body.

Snakes share their habitat with us, and people living in areas with a higher density of snake species and sub-species should learn to distinguish between the dangerous or harmless varieties, and thus avoid them accordingly. Non-venomous snakes could also bite and injure one seriously when threatened, therefore, a healthy attitude towards such animals will save you a lot of trouble. Do not attempt to catch, hunt or kill snakes: they will never come after you for the sake of just biting. The only terms under which they attack are when they are stirred or threatened. Respect the environment and everything it shelters!

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Snake Game

Who hasn’t played the snake game? It seems to be everywhere, particularly, on our cell phones and computers; the more simple it is the better people enjoy it in the tram on the way to work, in the waiting room when going to the dentist, during a school break or whenever they have to keep boredom away. The snake game is very simple, you can move up, down, right and left with the help of the keys on the computer or cell phone and you have to add more little segments to the snake without hitting a wall or making the snake touch its own tail. In more advanced versions of the snake game, you have to move the snake to eat colored apples.

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Snake game was launched in the 70s and it has not lost its popularity since then, becoming what we’d call a classic. On computers, the snake game started with the Blockade designed by Gremlin in the mid 70s, but the microcomputer version of the game, known as Worm appeared only in 1978. In time all sorts of variations, upgrades and modifications were operated on the snake game, but it is still preserved in its very classical form on Nokia cell phones; more advanced telephone models even include the 3D version of the game.

With the first monochrome cell phones, the graphics of the snake game were basic with simple black squares and four movement directions. As Nokia graphics improved so did the quality of the standard games included in the phone menu: thus with Nokia 3310, the snake game got a bug bonus feature. Later on, multi-player options with bluetooth and infra-red technologies were also adapted for the use of the snake game without serious modifications of content. The rules of the game are very easy to learn regardless of the form in which you play it, plus you will find it stimulating and skill building.

There are also disadvantages to playing snake game on the cell phone; even if you have a very good cell battery, it will still discharge sooner when used extensively. As for the impact on health, playing the snake game is not more harmful than other games in its category. Prolonged focusing on the cell or computer screen may cause headaches, blurred vision and other forms of eye troubles, as well as cramping in the neck muscles. Warnings may sound futile and actually ridiculous, but the fact remains that when playing a snake game or any other game in the phone menu, you prolong the exposure to the phone radiations.

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Florida Snakes

Florida snakes together with the many turtles, lizards, alligators and other reptiles are part of a complex wildlife that plays an incredible role in Florida’s ecosystem maintenance. Florida snakes are surely many: there are actually forty four species living in incredibly varied habitats, from salt marshes to fresh water mars and dry uplands or coastal mangroves and residential areas. Only six Florida snakes are poisonous, and they are coexisting with the non-poisonous, venturing in urban settings too. The best way to stay out of trouble is to care enough to learn about their morphology and thus become able to distinguish among these Florida snakes. A relaxed attitude of avoidance is the wisest thing a human being could show in relation to snakes.

The coral snake and pit vipers are the most dangerous Florida snakes, they can be identified by a wide range of characteristics. Pit vipers include the rattlesnake, the cottonmouth and the copperhead, they all have vertical eye pupils, a v-shaped head and some facial pits one between eyes and nostrils and the others on each side of the head. These Florida snakes are haemotoxic as their venom attacks the red blood cells, destroying the wall of the blood vessel and causing uncontrolled hemorrhage. Coral snakes on the other hand are neurotoxic, with the toxins in the venom acting on the body nerves and inducing paralysis.

Most of the snakebites reported in the United States every year are caused by Florida snakes, by rattlesnakes to be more precise. As their venom is very rapidly spreading in the body system, without immediate antivenin administration, the victim will die within less than half an hour. A major difference in the group of Florida snakes is made by copperheads, the venom of which will hardly require antidotes. Their toxins are the least potent and they are therefore considered the most gentle poisonous Florida snakes.

Even if poisonous snakes are the first to attract attention by the threat they pose, the most widespread of Florida snakes is the black racer, a non-toxic species that relies on very sharp fangs to hunt its prey. Although the main tendency of home owners is to remove snakes from their properties, specialists stress out the fact that without them, rodents would breed out of control pestering us even more. Therefore, unless there are any alarm bells ringing about snakes nesting in large numbers in people’s gardens, there is no reason to interfere with the life of these creatures.

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Garden Snakes

Snakes like hiding places, they are pretty independent creatures that do not harm anyone unless they feel threatened. For instance, many house owners have heard of garden snakes but they have actually never seen any. If you love gardening it is possible to come across the skins they leave behind, otherwise they are so camouflaged in the background and keep their distance from humans that encounters are very sporadic. Garden snakes are dull colored, either in tans and shades of brown, pale yellow, khaki or green, both humans and large animals like pets will scare them. The only problem is when the garden snakes are venomous, then you are in trouble, and most often, professional assistance is necessary to capture and relocate them in a wild habitat.

The most common garden snakes species is the Gartner snake, living mainly in the Americas in almost all climates. Yards, fields, forests and ponds are part of its favorite homes, which is why a garden makes a perfect location for such snakes. They can be recognized by three yellow horizontal stripes along their body; they are small and skinny, feeding on fish, frogs and earthworms. In turn garden snakes become prey for other animals like raccoons and owls. Do not touch such garden snakes, although they are not venomous, they bite in defense.

In North America Gartner or garden snakes hibernate in large groups, and it is during this period that many people collect them as pets. In certain parts of the continent a decline in the garden snakes population has been noticed, not only because of pet collection but also because of an imbalance in the habitat caused by pollution in aquatic areas. Concerning the variety of subspecies identified as garden snakes, field guides often provide incomplete data and even taxonomists do not agree in all points of view concerning the risk or safety of these snakes in human proximity.

For people who’d like to keep garden snakes away from their house premises, there are all sorts of repellents available in stores. The risk exists when you live in an area where both venomous and non-venomous snakes live and you find it difficult to make a distinction between them. Even so, you should be aware of the fact that keeping snakes out of the garden is pretty challenging and not 100% effective. Most experts advise that you let them be unless you come across them on a very frequent basis.

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Poisonous Snakes

Poisonous snakes can surely cause fear and some of the most negative feelings towards some this crawling part of the animal world. The venom of poisonous snakes is so deadly that it can kill one in less than thirty minutes, not to mention the risk of getting blind if any of the toxins are sprayed into the eyes. Despite the risk of getting bitten in close encounters, poisonous snakes are creatures like all others but rely on their venom to survive: no snake will bite unless in defense or to hunt its meal. The rest of the negative aura surrounding snakes results from a faulty perception triggered by ancient myths.

The structure of the venom secreted by poisonous snakes is very complex: there is mainly a combination of proteins and toxins that when spread in the prey’s body paralyze and eventually kill it. The toxin attacks the heart, the lungs and the muscles first, and depending on this way of action scientists have identified poisonous snakes that destroy blood vessels and cause unstoppable hemorrhage, venomous species that paralyze the heart and others that only cause excruciating muscle pain. The poisonous snakes with the most frightening of reputations are corals closely followed by cobras.

The intricacies of snake venom still make the subject of comprehensive scientific studies. The only remedy for poisonous snakes bites is the immediate administration of antivenins. There are however some factors that influence the victim’s chances of survival: thus, an identification of the snake is necessary as well as the proper location of the bite. If too much time lapses between the moment of the bite and the administration of the antivenin, serious health damage or even death could occur. Furthermore, there have been cases of patients who developed instant allergies to poisonous snake bites or to antidotes and died.

Rattlesnakes are the most common poisonous snakes in America, and they are the ones to cause most of the bites, yet death from such accidents is a rarity in our times since medical help is usually very readily available. Other relatives of the rattlesnake include the water moccasin, the cottonmouth or the copperhead; they are highly poisonous snakes too that would surely mark the days of anyone who gets bitten. Snake phobia could thus be developed because of a dangerous encounter with some poisonous snakes or it can be the result of sociological ancestral traditions that are manifest even in people who have never come across a snake in their life.

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Snake Repellant

Getting rid of snakes is quite of challenge in globe areas where people die because of snake bites. Presently, ingenious inventors have come up with special snake repellant systems, yet, besides professional assistance, there are basic things you can do in order to eliminate the chances of snakes making their nest in your garden. First of all, bushes, shrubs and ponds are great snake habitats, as they have a great hiding place to wait for prey; moreover, when there is a lot of shrubbery in the garden, snakes can travel from one spot to another without difficulty. Therefore, a first snake repellant solution is to keep thick vegetation away from the house.

Then, mowing the lawn regularly makes another great snake repellant method since too high grass can camouflage snakes pretty well. Moreover, an unkempt law is the perfect habit for some of the favorite meals in the menu of a snake: locusts, small rodents, mice, crickets and even frogs. When the lawn is mowed short, then snakes will avoid it as an open space that makes them easy prey for other predatory species like owls or hawks. Any cluttered area around the house can cause just as much trouble, becoming nests for poisonous or non-poisonous snakes. Hence, do not allow any piles of wood, open sheds and compost heaps around the house.

In African wilderness, local people use camel or goat hair ropes as a great snake repellant means: snakes do not slither over such rough surfaces. Aborigines will often surround their open-air sleeping area with such ropes to protect themselves against the deadly bites of some of the African poisonous snakes. Modern tent design takes this snake repellant issue very seriously, which is why there are usually nets that have to be zipped up in order to prevent snakes from entering. Make sure you do not forget to zip the tent when entering or getting out, or you may have unwelcome guests joining you.

Snake repellant solutions do exist in other forms too and they include special foams, nets and all sorts of protections for window sills for instance. Many such devices are considered controversial according to animal rights protection. Consequently, it is probably a very good idea that you go for the harmless snake repellant solutions. If by any chance you suspect dangerous snakes nesting in your garden, do not try to kill or chase them away, as they will attack when threatened. Turn to some pest control service and have the animals safely removed, and no harm will be done to either party.

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Types Of Snakes

There are about 2,700 snake species and the majority of them fall in the nonvenomous category. Types of snake varieties live everywhere in the world in temperate and warm climates with the exception of several isolated islands, Ireland and New Zealand. Just as the species differentiate from each other, the same holds valid for the types of snake bites, with the mention that the nastiest and even deadliest of wounds are caused by poisonous species. The anacondas, the pythons and the boas with the constrictor variety represent the most popular nonvenomous types of snake species as they are also the largest and most impressive by size.

The most dangerous are the types of snake bites in the pit viper family, and they include those of the water moccasin, the rattlesnake, the bushmaster or the copperhead. The real vipers are the ones to share the most venomous reputation in the Old World, with the cobras and the black mambas being in top. Yet, let’s not forget about the sea snakes that also rely on very powerful venom to hunt, as the toxins they leave in the body of the prey have to paralyze it within seconds. Asian countries have many types of snake dishes in their restaurant menus, but most of the times snakes are hunted for their skin.

The snake is also a symbol, not just an animal people feel afraid of. The representations of snakes in our arts and cultures go back to the ancient mythical times. On the one hand, serpents are part of ecosystems, with a major role in the existence of certain species, and on the other they are symbols of profound meanings. Their feeding on mice and rats keeps pest under control and prevents the over-breeding of these rodents. Yet, in the ancient traditions, types of snake worshiping did exist, with the serpent symbolizing deities, the eternal circle of life and death or wisdom.

All types of snake-related traditions have been identified around the globe: for the ancient Greeks the snake was the symbol of fertility; Mesopotamians and Semites considered this animal immortal because it shed its skin and it rejuvenated its appearance periodically; Indians, Siamese and Burmese considered the snake the embodiment of a demon that also had its good parts. According to the latter cultures the cobra is the king of all serpents, but the Chinese on the other hand raised the snake at the level of the dragon that is revered as a protective and fascinating manifestation of the divinity.

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Snake Identification

Though many people suffer from more or less serious snake phobia, they make very little distinction between the venomous and the non-venomous types. Snake identification is considered necessary for people sharing their habitat with all sorts of snake species, particularly when their bite is a threat to human life. The length, the body and the head shape, the color and patterns, the texture of the scales as well as the size and form of the eye pupil are snake identification elements that serve for more than classification. Familiarity with these traits becomes a necessary prevention measure and authorities insist that people learn how to distinguish between the various snake species.

As a first snake identification detail, length strikes the eye first. The danger often comes from well camouflaged species that are also very small. The body shape can be challenging to distinguish since the presence of prey in the snake’s digestive system changes the way the body looks; slender, medium sized and stout are the standard criteria and they are often judged in the combination with the color pattern. Then, the snake identification as poisonous or non-poisonous can be tricky when considering the head and neck shape; though the majority of venomous species have triangular head, there are some with round heads too, and vice versa.

According to pattern and color, snakes could be striped, multicolored, blotched, banded, mono-colored or they may have only the head or the tail different from the rest of the body. It is common knowledge that snake identification usually considers the nature of the pattern in determining the poisonous or non-poisonous trait of a species; generally speaking, snakes with complex patterns or vivid colors are venomous, but exceptions do exist. Nature has its way of signaling danger to other creatures sharing the same habitat, but sometimes the bright colors could be just a smart way of blending in the background and not be spotted by predators. This is the case with bright green snakes living in tropical rain forests.

For scientific purposes snake identification requires the analysis of the scales specificity; such a check cannot be performed individually, as special protection equipment and lots of professional training is necessary to stay unharmed and not harm the animal either. The scales could be smooth, shiny and rounded or diamond shaped; the latter have a duller look and are specific to snakes living on rough terrains and dusty arid areas. Last but not least, the eye pupil allows for a quick snake identification since the cat-like vertical pupil indicates a venomous predator. With the exception of the poisonous coral snake that has rounded pupils, most dangerous species show the elliptical pupil shape.

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Copperhead Snakes

Copperhead snakes are the snakes to cause the nastiest and most frequent of problems in the United States. The copperhead can be recognized by the stout shape and the neck distinct from the body as well as by its pale cross-band tan pattern that gets darker in the middle and on the sides. Copperhead snakes have pale bellies, similar to the background, but they sometimes appear pretty whitish. The crown on the snake’s head is only marked by a pair of little dark spots, but there is also a fainter stripe on the head area behind the eyes; this stripe looks very diffuse on top but it gets brownish towards the edges.

Copperhead snakes prefer all sorts of habitats, from rocks and pond areas to woods and stream shores. The choice of the abode is dictated by the presence of prey, as copperhead snakes live on birds, frogs, mice, cicadas, caterpillars and other small animals they manage to hunt. Among the hide places for the copperhead, walls stones, debris or wood piles, empty buildings and large stone slabs are the favorite, which explains the possibility of a human encounter in such areas. Copperhead snakes will be active from March to October, with a hibernation period in the cold autumn and winter months.

The dens in which copperhead snakes retreat during winter are their homes year after year, and usually there are more specimens living in the same abode. In summer time when it is too hot outside, the copperhead snakes will stay in the shade during the day and go out to hunt at night. If the weather is just warm, this snake will simply bask in the sun on rocks or wood debris. The siblings of copperhead snakes are born alive and not hatched, and their number varies between one and fourteen, with the mating period extending till mid autumn.

The bite of copperhead snakes requires immediate medical care since it is not only very painful but it may also lead to permanent scarring and tissue loss. The best advice you can get when encountering copperhead snakes is to avoid them, as many people get bitten when trying to kill or even handle them. Snakes will not attack you unless they feel threatened, then, you will see how fiercely they can defend themselves. Statistics indicate that copperhead snakes have the highest incidence in bite frequency in the United States, because these snakes attack immediately without giving threatening warnings like other species.

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Water Snakes

All snakes can swim, their anatomy allows them to hunt both on land and in water, and there are species which surely prefer water as their main life environment. Fresh water snakes are usually waiting for their prey under tree branches fallen in water or underneath overhanging trees. Hence, when you go fishing, you need to do pretty much the same thing as when you go in the wild on land and do your best to stay away from snakes. Some species cling to tree branches and drop in the water only when they detect movement; this is pretty risky if you get one of these poisonous species into your boat. It will surely be a challenge to get rid of a scared snake threatening you in your own canoe.

Some water snakes are harmless to humans while others are a real threat. If we consider for instance water snakes living in open seas, then, keep in mind the fact that they have been rated among the most venomous creatures on earth. Sea water snakes are so lethal as the concentration of the toxins has been adapted to their life environment: they have to strike fast and kill as fast or they lose the prey in the depth of the ocean. Nevertheless, chances of getting bitten by salt water snakes are lower than encountering a water moccasin. Most of the advice given in survival guides consequently refers to the ways to deal with fresh water snakes that hunt in rivers, lakes or wetlands.

One great tip is to always have some form of handled reptile grip tool if you cannot avoid overhanging branches when you go boating. Practice with small and large hose pieces before you launch the canoe, so as to be prepared for the least friendly of encounters. If you spot water snakes swimming, these are not a threat to you, if you are on boat as they cannot jump out of the water. In case you get bitten, an identification of the snake would be of much help in case you need to administrate an antivenin.

The bite of nonvenomous water snakes usually looks like a horse shoe-shaped area of tiny punctures that may be bleeding or not. In case you get only two punctured wounds, then you most probably have been bitten by a venomous snake and you need to get to an emergency room immediately. A venom removal pump should always be present in the first aid kit as a means of delaying the spreading of the toxin in the blood and thus earning some more time before getting to a medical facility.

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Pet Snakes For Sale

Why do people choose reptiles for pets? Though they will not reward you with tail wagging or lap purring, snakes, spiders or amphibians are considered very exotic and popular pets; such preferences would explain the large number of pet snakes for sale available in pet shops or on the Internet. These are pets that are very easy to take care of, requiring just a small tank with low maintenance. The calm disposition of snakes and their great-looking patterns often influence their choice over fish for instance by home owners who want to add new members to the family. Not all pet snakes for sale make a good match for anybody.

If you seriously consider to take a pet snake, there are a few things you should know in order for the animal to be happy and healthy too. The best pet snakes for sale are young ones since they are a lot easier to carry and even handle, plus, if you get to grow your pet, the connection you establish with it is going to be special. In case you want to purchase an adult, such pet snakes for sale are usually given away by their owners because they lack the means to support them or because they are moving and can’t take the snake with them. Poisonous snakes are out of the question as pets, and you won’t find any shop to sell you such species.

Before selecting from various pet snakes for sale, learn about the breed specificity, find out how big they grow, how they mate and which habitat they prefer. Prepare the tank to meet your new friend before bringing it home, so that it may feel comfortable from the beginning. Pet snakes for sale are not available only with local pet stores. There are also rescue shelters or humane societies that will give snakes for adoption for free as sometimes they cannot release the specimens back in the wild. Pet owners who are looking for reptiles are not that common given the fact that so many people suffer from snake phobia, and few snakes find new homes.

Pet snakes for sale are also available with reptile breeders; you can find such business owners in the classifieds or on the Internet. Online forum users could give you some links to sections that may help you locate a breeder in your vicinity. The best deals with pet snakes for sale are those when you get the animal from someone who has really cared for it. Such pet owners can give you all the details you need about the personality of the pet and its habits.

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Cobra Snake

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. Most cobra snake varieties live in tropical and desert areas, being widely spread in the arid lands of Asia and Africa. These serpents have got so very famous by the threatening posture they assume 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 sensing a possible attack coming. Another thing the cobra snake remains famous for 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 be very painful and even blinding, therefore, if you accidentally get cobra snake venom in the eyes, wash them out immediately so as to prevent permanent damage to the tissues. The King cobra snake also distinguishes itself in this large serpent family by the fact that it feeds almost completely on other snakes, with mice and small birds also falling prey to its venom.

The King cobra snake sets another record in terms of size: it can get up to seventeen feet long, which makes it the largest venomous snake in the world. The most recent discovery of a cobra snake species was made in 2003, when a specimen was identified at a London Zoo as part of an illegal shipment of exotic pets. According to DNA studies this new species is similar to the red spitting cobra snake but different in terms of genes. It apparently originates in an area between Sudan and Egypt, and it was given the name of 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 is pretty slow in attack, and many bites prove blank, without envenomation. A study conducted on Malaysian cobra snake victims indicates that only 55% of the wounds involved venom release. Yet, the same statistics indicates a mortality rate of 10% for people bitten by a cobra snake, since the toxins eliminated in the blood of the prey are devastating the nerves and inducing respiratory failure half an hour after being bitten.

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