Cobra is Very Amazing Snake!

Cobra is the Portuguese word for "snake". In English and in some other languages, it has been adopted as the name for any of various species of venomous snakes. Most of those species are in the family Elapidae, all of which are venomous. Most of them can spread their neck ribs to form a flattened, widened hood.

Not all snakes commonly referred to as cobras are of the same genus, or even in the family Elapidae. The name "cobra" is short for cobra de capelo or cobra-de-capelo, which is Portuguese for "snake with hood", or "hood-snake". In some modern languages, such as Afrikaans, the other part of the Portuguese name was adopted, and the predominant name for a cobra in Afrikaans is "kapel". When disturbed, most of these snakes rear up and spread their necks (or hoods) in a characteristic threat display, making them a favorite of snake charmers because of the dramatic effect. Long ago, snake charming used to be a religious ritual, though nowadays it has become an entertainment. Cobras, which may live up to 20 years, are found from southern Africa, through southern Asia, to some of the islands of Southeast Asia.

Cobra may refer to:

• Naja, also known as typical or "true" cobras (known for raising the front part of the body and flattening the neck in a warning signal when alarmed), a group of elapids found in Africa and Asia. They include over 20 species, including Naja nivea, the cape, a moderately sized, highly venomous cobra inhabiting a wide variety of biomes across southern Africa, Cleopatra's "asp" (the Egyptian cobra, Naja haje) and the Asiatic spectacled cobra Naja naja and monocled cobra, Naja kaouthia.
•  Spitting cobras, a subset of Naja species with the ability to squirt venom from their fangs in self defense
• Hemachatus haemachatus, ringhals, rinkhals or ring-necked spitting cobra, a species of the Elapidae found in Africa
• Any member of the genus Boulengerina, the water cobras, a group of Elapidae found in Africa (now regarded as species in the genusNaja)
• Paranaja multifasciata, the burrowing cobra, an African species of the Elapidae (now regarded as a speciesof Naja)
•  Any member of the genus Aspidelaps, the shield cobras, an African genus in the Elapidae
• Any species of Pseudohaje, the tree cobras, a genus of African Elapidae
• Ophiophagus hannah, the king cobra, an elapid found in parts of India and southern Asia
• Micrurus fulvius, the American cobra or eastern coral snake, a species of the Elapidae found in the southeastern United States and in parts of Cuba.
• Hydrodynastes gigas, the false water cobra, a mildly venomous member of the family Colubridae. It is indigenous to parts of South America and forms a hood if disturbed, though the hood is longer and narrower than those of "true" cobras in the Elapidae.
• Not a common name, but a highly obsolete synonym for the genus Bitis, the adders, a group of venomous vipers found in Africa and parts of the Middle East.

Cobras are famous for the threatening hood at their neck.  They spread the hood out when they feel threatened or angry.  Their hood is made up of flaps of skin attached to long ribs.  They are also able to lift their heads high up off the ground, which is not only kinda scary, but helps them to search for food.  And just to make them a little scarier, they hiss loudly to scare off potential predators.

There are 270 different types of Cobras and their relatives, including Taipans, Adders, Mambas, and many sea snakes including Kraits, and they all have short fangs and are all extremely poisonous. 

Cobras live in hot tropical areas in Africa, Australia, and Southern Asia and their relatives, the Coral Snake, can be found in the United States.  They can be found underground, in trees, and under rocks.  The King Cobra is not only an excellent climber but a super swimmer as well.  They live in forests near streams.

These snakes are hunters and will quietly follow their prey until they are ready to attack.  They can move very fast and can speed along with their heads raised.  Cobras are cannibals, which means that they will eat other snakes as well as birds, bird eggs and small mammals. Kraits feed almost totally on other snakes.

Cobras lay eggs and will stick around to defend them until they hatch.  Wild boars and mongooses will steal cobra eggs. A mongoose will often win fights with Cobras because of their speed and agility.  They also have thick fur to protect them against the cobra’s fangs. 

The Spitting Cobra has a special talent.  Can you guess what it is? That’s right, it can spit! The venom it spits out can spray more than 1.8 meters, or 6 feet. Unfortunately for the one being spit at, this snake has near perfect aim, and will fire straight into the eyes of it’s prey.