The King Cobra

This is the mighty King Cobra, you can see the black and white markings, courtesy of www.creatures2.animallovers.com.

Here is one of the most worshiped and venomous snakes in the world. We call it the "King Cobra".

History-The king cobra goes back before the dinosaurs, when it was just a lizard. But then it found that it's legs were a nuisance under ground, digging or following it's prey. So over time it slowly lost its legs. Way back in Eygpten time they worshiped snakes, but especially the spectacular cobras.(Mostly the king cobra). It was thought that Cleopatra was killed by a king cobra. In Asia though some of them are afraid of them. Some of them worshiped them, and played a game called snake charming.

Snake charming is a very old king of entertainment and is practiced mostly in the East of Asia. Because of the nervousness of being bit by a poisons snake that delivers nertoxins that can kill a elephant in less than six hours it is amazing to see a king cobra being used for charming. Some times they'll use other snakes, beautiful snakes. Usually a professional showman will play his pipes. The cobra rises from its basket in a defensive position, wich looks like its dancing. Most of the time the dangerous fangs are removed, but some people take the risk of being bit. In ancient times charmers did this for myths and beliefs, but know its done for entertainment.

Here is a wonderful closeup picture on a different colored king cobra, courtesy of www.creatures2.animallovers.com.

Another charming tonic is havening the snake lay on the flour in its defensive position, then kissing it, pushing it flat down on the flour with your chin or nose.

Snake worship has done from ancient times and even today, but there was a myth, a story of a time when it was dark, no light in the entire universe. It grew cold and evil came upon earth, and good. Then from dark cosmic waters the brilliant god Vishu was created first, then heaven, earth, and the underworld. But for all was not lost. from the left over material, a gigantic cobra called Shisha was created. Myth says Shesha with from five to 1000 heads, and images depict Vishu reclining on the cold Shesha, sheltered by open hoods of Shesha's many heads. Earthquakes are attributed to Shesha's yawn, and fire from his mouth or his venom detours the world at the end of an age.

There are many other beliefs such as the ape god and a cobra race cald Nagas inhabited by the underworld. Most of the time cobra is thought of the guarden of goodness, and the destroyer of the wicked.

Habitat- A habitat for a king cobra could be a desert forest or just forest or desert. They need arm temptures up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit at the highest. But they mostly stay in places 90 degrees or lower. They live in the northern pary of India where there is sand dunes and people.

Most of the King cobras live in Southern Asia. As you can see on the map the red spots are where they live, courtesy of www.creatures2.animallovers.com.

The king cobra hsd bitr that can kill a elephant in three hours more or less! But will not waste its venom, only when it's needed. King cobras like to be near streams in dense open forests, bamboo thickets, adjacent agricultural areas, and dense mangrove swamps.

food Sorces and Human environment interaction- Cobras mostly eat insects, rodents, and small birds. King cobras can reach to be a wapping 18ft. Also they will eat other snakes.

Humans have been disrupting there natrul environment and forcing them into the city. But there a people that one trying to help.

Scientific and other- The king cobra can see heat and has a fork tongue to capture smells. They don't have very good eye sight because it's different than ours and the can't here. They feel vibrations as sound as a mouse. They're usually yellow or white cross-bars or cherrons on its body. This is one truly aswme snake and should not be under estimotell.

On this sheet you can look at the king cobras exrayed hood and see some interesting facts, www.creatures2.animallovers.com.