The spectacled snake (photo see below) got its name because of the design, which is two rings with a bow located on the back side of its hood. Such an element is a specific feature of all cobras.
It is a section of the neck that swells when exposed to a specific muscle group. This happens when the cobra is aggressive or scared.
Habitat
You can meet the spectacle snake in nature only in countries with a warm climate. It lives in the whole space from India, Central Asia and South China to the Philippines and the islands of the Malay archipelago. Cobra's favorite places are the jungle and rice fields. Sometimes it creeps into city parks and garden plots.
Cobra lives in various places. She can settle under the roots of trees, in piles of brushwood, in ruins and stony screes. However, she prefers places located near human habitation. A snake can also live high in the mountains, in territories located up to two thousand seven hundred meters above sea level.
External description
An Indian cobra, also called a spectacular snake, has a body length from one and a half to two meters. The main color of her scales is fiery yellow, giving a bluish sheen. The slightly blunted and rounded head of the cobra in the body passes very smoothly. Small snake eyes have round pupils. Large shields are located on the head.
Paired cobra venom fangs are found on its upper jaw. At a certain distance from them, one to three small teeth follow.
The body of the spectacular cobra, covered with smooth scales, passes into a thin long tail. The coloration of individuals of this species can vary significantly even among those representatives that live in the same locality. The general background of the body are colors from grayish yellow to brown and even black. The belly of a cobra is yellowish-brown or light gray.
The character of the coloring of young individuals is somewhat different. Transverse dark stripes are clearly visible on their body. With age, they gradually turn pale, and subsequently disappear altogether.
The most notable difference in snake coloring is the so-called glasses. This bright, clear pattern is especially visible in the case of aggressive cobra.
The spectacle snake in its movements is awkward and rather slow. However, if necessary, she splendidly swims and climbs trees.
Hazard behavior
With any threat, the spectacle snake lifts vertically the front third of its body. At the same time, she breeds eight front pairs of cervical ribs to the side. In case of danger, the cobra holds in the direction of the enemy in a horizontal position. The neck in such a situation expands and becomes flatter. It was then that the bright ocular pattern characteristic of this type of cobra manifests itself. The value of "points" for the snake is very high. The fact is that if a predator attacks from the rear, they give the impression that the head of the cobra is turned towards it. This holds back the enemies of the reptile.
Breeding
Spectacled snake mates in January-February. And in May, females lay eggs. In the clutch, as a rule, there are from ten to twenty eggs (very rarely up to forty-five). Males and females live in pairs, not only during the mating season, but also until the young growth is born. Egg laying is necessarily protected by one of the parents.
Eggs develop in seventy to eighty days.
Enemies and victims
Spectacled snake has many enemies. However, the most dangerous for her is the mongoose. This is a small predator that belongs to the family of wyverns. Mongoose is able to attack a snake of any size. He easily jumps, avoiding throws of the Indian cobra, and at a convenient moment clings to his neck with his sharp teeth. Mongoose has reduced sensitivity to cobra venom. Nevertheless, he still tries to avoid her bites.
Spectacled snake is very poisonous. However, it does not pose a threat to humans. The fact is that she first poisones her victim, and then swallows it completely. The snake eats various reptiles, rats and mice. Therefore, a person is not of particular interest to her.
In the case when a terrible hiss is heard nearby, anyone can understand that a cobra is nearby. Spectacled snake warns a person about a possible attack. If you ignore the situation, then a big disaster can happen. The cobra will begin to defend itself, which means it will bite and poison its offender. Her poison is very strong. After a bite, a person may become sick or die.
