Studies reveal that people accustomed with the cobra snake family than with any other snake group or subgroup in the poisonous or non-poisonous serpent categories. Tropical lands and desert areas make the beloved 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 great by the threatening body position they assume when danger is near: a cobra snake, which has a regular symmetrical head otherwise, will flatten the head and push it towards the back in a menacing way when seeing a possible attack coming. Another peculiarity 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 diversity as it not only has a deadly bite but it also sprays venom in the eyes of prey and aggressors alike. The eye contact with the venom toxins can cause not just pain but blindness too, therefore, in case your eyes get exposed to cobra snake venom, wash them out as soon as possible so as to stop permanent damage to the tissues. 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 incredible size is one other history the King cobra snake sets: it can get up to seventeen feet long, which makes it the largest venomous snake in the world. A new species was discovered in our times, in 2003 to be more precise, when a specimen was identified at a London Zoo as part of an illegal transport of exotic pets. According to DNA studies this new species is similar to the red spitting cobra snake but shows major differences in the genetic structure. It seems to come from the region between Sudan and Egypt, and it was given the name of Nubian spitting cobra.
Though highly fatal when it senses a threat, a cobra snake will keep away if you let it be. In comparison with the launch speed of a rattlesnake, the cobra is pretty slow in attack, and many bites fail to touch the prey or do not result in envenomation. Research conducted on Malaysian cobra snake victims shows that only 55% of the bites involved venom release too. Yet, the same research indicates a 10% risk of death for people bitten by a cobra snake, as the toxic compounds released in the blood of the prey are devastating the nerves and inducing respiratory failure half an hour after being bitten.
Finding hiding places is part of snakes' nature, they are pretty independent creatures that do not pose any risk unless they feel threatened. For example, many house owners have heard of garden snakes but they have actually never seen any. If you take gardening as a hobby it is possible to come across the skins they leave behind, otherwise they are well hidden in the background and keep their distance from humans that chances to see them are pretty rare. Garden snakes are dull colored, either in tans and shades of brown, pale yellow, khaki or green, and they will usually run away from people and pets. The only issue is when you have poisonous garden snakes, then you are in trouble, and most often, professional assistance is required to capture and move them in wilderness.
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