SNAKE & SNAKE BITE TREATMENT IN KERALA COBRA
COBRA (Naja Naja)
The species is distributed almost all over India. Although not found in Kashmir. It is uncommon in regions where the Monocled is more common. A population overlap is recorded in the North-Eastern part of India. On the rear of the snake’s hood are two circular ocelli patterns connected by a curved line, evoking the image of spectacles.
General Characteristics:
Adult cobra measures about one meter and the maximum recorded length is 2.2 M.
Dorsal body
Body shape is slender with smooth and oval shaped scales. Body color includes a number of colors varying from region to region. Colors include dark yellow, brown, light brown, reddish –brown, black with bluish, reddish & grayish tint etc.
The color of the snake depends on its geographical distribution. Coastal state specimens have color range of yellow and brown. .Sometimes dark-colored bands are also present .Eastern Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and North Indian specimens are usually dark brown or black in color.
Ventral body
Belly color also has a variety of colors ranging from milky white , yellowish , bluish white, reddish white, brownish white , etc.It depends on the color of the dorsal body .Sometimes dark colored patches are also present on the ventral surface so they look like the ventral scales of a Rat snake .
Head is broad with shiny smooth scales. The famous hood mark appears when they spread the hood. Hood marks may be clearly visible or absent and the size and shape vary. In dark colored specimens (from North India) hood mark becomes faint or vanishes completely in the adult stage. Nostrils are large, pupils round. The swelling on the temporal region is due to the under lying venom glands visible on both sides of the snake’s head.
Key characteristics of identification
When disturbed or altered , the cobra’s first reactions will be the lifting of its fore body and spreading of its hood .They do short mock charges and produce loud hissing sounds which are unmistakable identification tips of a Cobra .When directly confronted or threatened the snakes gives a warning with the stretched hood and then tries to crawl away. If cornered or in acute danger, the snake will bite quickly-usually a fast snap and may attack repeatedly. Larger specimens may bite like a dog, without releasing itself from the victim, pumping maximum venom.
It is one of the most common snakes found in India. They seem to be well adapted for a wide variety of habitats as they are commonly found in urban areas, farm lands and forests. The snake is active during day and night. It takes shelter in abandoned heavy furniture , machinery etc.
Indian cobras are oviparous and lay their eggs between the months of April and July .The female snake usually lays between 10 to 30 eggs in rat holes or termite mounds and the eggs hatch 48 to 69 days later.The hatchlings measure between 20 to 30 centimeters (7.9 and 12 in) in length.The hatchlings are independent from birth and have fully functional venom glands.
Venom
The Indian Cobra’s venom mainly contains a powerful post synaptic neurotoxin and cardiotoxin.The venom acts on the synaptic gaps of the nerves, thereby paralyzing muscles, and in severe bites leading to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest.The venom components include enzymes such as hyaluronidase that cause lysis and increase the spread of the venom. Envenomation symptoms may manifest between 15 minutes to 2 hours following the bite and can be fatal in an hour in severe cases of envenomation.
Mortality rate for untreated bite victims can vary tremendously, but according to one study it is approximately 15-20%. Another study with 1,224 bite cases the mortality rate was only 6.5%.
The Indian Cobra is one of the Big four snakes of south Asia (mostly India) which are responsible for the majority of human deaths. Polyvalent serum is available for treating snakebites caused by the species. Zedoary, a local spice with a reputation for being effective against snakebite, has shown promise in experiments testing its activity against cobra venom..
The venom of young cobras has been used as a substance of abuse in India, with cases of snake charmers being paid of providing bites from their snakes. Though this practice is now seen as outdated, symptoms of such abuse include loss of consciousness, euphoria, and sedation.
1 Comment
Nimesh
Good information 👍