Why spitting cobras don't technically spit
Why spitting cobras don't technically spit
These snakes mean business.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Transcript
Red pandas are more closely related to raccoons than to pandas. The flying fox is actually a bat. The bearcat isn’t a bear OR a cat.
And would you believe the spitting cobra doesn’t spit? Well, at least not technically.
Wait…what’s that, then?
Spitting cobras are members of the snake family Elapidae. Some members of this family have evolved the ability to shoot venom from their fangs when threatened.
Here’s how it works. By squeezing the muscles on their venom glands, these snakes eject a spray of venom toward their victim.
Some species can shoot venom up to 10 feet away from their bodies.
And these snakes mean business: spitting cobras aim for the eyes to cause maximum damage.
They even move their heads from side to side while spitting, increasing the odds that they hit their target.
“Spit” isn’t the only weapon in their arsenal. A spitting cobra’s bite has venom, too, which is employed to take down their prey: small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
The spit is a purely defensive mechanism, which some researchers believe evolved as protection against humans.
If you do come across a spitting cobra in the wild, keep some eyeglasses handy.
If venom gets in your eyes, wash your eyes thoroughly for several minutes and as soon as possible.