Statistics indicate that people are more familiar with the cobra snake family than with any other snake group or subgroup in the poisonous or non-poisonous serpent categories. Most cobra snake varieties alive in hot and desert areas, this snake is regularly found in the arid lands of Asia and Africa. These serpents have got so very great by the threatening body position they assume when sensing danger: a cobra snake, which has a perfectly symmetrical head otherwise, will flatten the head and rear it up in a menacing way when it considers itself in danger. Another thing the cobra snake remains famous for is the snake charming tricks performed by Indian serpent breeders.
A more special mixture in this snake group is the spitting cobra that, besides biting, will spray venom into the eyes of aggressors or prey. The contact with the eyes can be very painful and even blinding, therefore, in case your eyes get disclosed to cobra snake venom, washing with plenty of water could be the only way to stop permanent damage. The King cobra snake also distinguishes itself 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 King cobra snake sets another history in terms of size: 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 exact, when a strange cobra snake was identified at a London Zoo as part of an illegal transport of exotic pets. DNA studies revealed that this new species resembles the red spitting cobra snake but shows major differences in terms of genes. It apparently originates from the region between Sudan and Egypt, which is why scientists gave it the old name of this geographicarea, Nubian spitting cobra.
Though highly dangerous when it senses a threat, a cobra snake will not attack if you let it be. In comparison with the launch speed of a rattlesnake, the cobra isn't too active when attacking, and many bites fail to touch the prey or do not result in envenomation. A study conducted on Malaysian people bitten by a cobra snake shows that only 55% of the wounds had venom release too. Yet, the same statistics indicates a 10% risk of death for people bitten by a cobra snake, since the toxins sent in the blood of the prey are affecting the nerves and causing respiratory deficiencies within thirty minutes from the occurrence of the bite.
Finding hiding places is part of snakes' nature, they are pretty independent creatures that do not pose any risk unless they feel threatened. For instance, many house owners have heard of garden snakes but they have actually never seen any. If you love gardening it is possible to find the skins they leave behind, otherwise they are well hidden in living environment and keep their distance from humans that encounters are very sporadic. Garden snakes are dull colored, either in tans and shades of brown, pale yellow, khaki or green, both humans and large animals like pets will scare them. The only issue is when the garden snakes are venomous, then you are in trouble, and most often, professional assistance is required to capture and relocate them in wilderness.