Indian Cobra Facts

A highly poisonous reptile, the Indian cobra, known by the scientific name naja naja, can grow to lengths of more than seven feet. The snake, also referred to as the Indian spectacled cobra, is found in rainforests or rice fields throughout India, as well as Central and Southeast Asia. The creature is noted for its wide, black band located on its neck and distinctive hood markings.

  1. Serpent Festival

    • India Cobras are revered annually in India during Naga Panchami, also known as the Serpent Festival. The festival pays homage to the nine Serpent Gods. Celebrated on various days throughout India, the festival is often held in August, after the monsoon rains. During the festival, cobras are brought to Hindu villages and fed. Often times images of the snakes are also worshiped. Throughout the celebration, Hindus fast and visit temples and pray to the cobras. Celebrants offer silver jewelry on behalf of the cobras asking for protection.

    Snake Charmer

    • The Indian cobra is the snake most used by snake charmers during the Serpent Festival. The cobra looks as if it is swinging back and forth to the melody coming from the snake charmer's flute. However, the Indian cobra is deaf and just follows the moving flute and also senses the vibration of the ground caused by the snake charmer tapping feet.

    Venom

    • When threatened or attacking prey, the Indian cobra can inject a large quantity of venom in its victims. During an attack, the snake often distributes more than one bite and may clutch its victims and chew on them violently. While biting may cause swelling, bruising and blistering, the real damage is done from the release of venom into the victim's bloodstream. Once the venom enters the body, the poison blocks neurotransmitters that sends signals from the brain to the muscles, causing paralysis and heart failure. According to the University of California, San Diego website, a person will begin feeling the affects about eight minutes after being bitten by an Indian cobra.

    Young

    • Indian cobras are oviparous, meaning they reproduce by laying eggs. The cobras often lay their eggs in hollow trees, a termite mound, or into the ground in a nest they built themselves. Eggs, which can take nearly 70 days to hatch, are laid in the spring or early summer. Females can lay as few as eight eggs, or as many as 45 eggs. As a newborn, a cobra is about 12 inches long and has the ability to inflict poison from birth.

    Misconceptions

    • Many myths are associated with cobras. During the Serpent Festival, snakes are often given milk. However, the creatures actually do not ingest milk, as the snakes cannot properly digest the liquid. Only mammals who possess mammary glands can produce milk, and other animals will not crave the liquid, according to the Wildlife SOS website. Also, Indian cobras are often associated with spitting venom, but only spitting cobras can spew venom at victims.