Egyptian cobra: Know its physical characteristics, behaviour, venom and more

The Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) is a big and highly venomous member of the family Elapidae, the cobras. They are widespread in semiarid areas of northern and eastern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and northern South Africa. Of historic importance, this snake has long been represented in ancient Egyptian iconography, including on the crowns of pharaohs. The Egyptian cobra is also believed to be the legendary asp responsible for the death of Cleopatra. Similar to its relative, the Indian cobra (Naja naja), the Egyptian cobra is one of the snakes most popular among snake charmers, who will use their proficiency to manipulate the snake's action and evade the slow strike of the snake.

The Egyptian cobra is a formidable snake, reaching a length of 2.4 meters (8 feet) in some cases, although the mean length is generally 1.5 to 1.8 meters (5 to 6 feet). Its head is diminutive and flat, with a rounded snout, and its body is moderately stout and gradually narrows towards a pointed tail. The snake is adorned with huge smooth scales, and the coloring can be anything from grayish yellow to brown to near black, with the underside frequently yellow. There are some, mainly those that are located in Ethiopia and southern Africa, which have seven to nine wide yellow bands on their bodies.
When threatened, Egyptian cobra produces a remarkable threat display by bending the front part of the body and spreading out its neck ribs to create an unmistakable hood. Dark marks on the throat and front of the hood become visible as it uses this bluffing mechanism, with the rest of the body remaining blank. As a desperate measure, occasionally if this fails to discourage the threat, it will mimic death.

The venom of Egyptian cobra consists mainly of neurotoxins acting on the nervous system of prey, rendering the snake an efficient nocturnal predator. It feeds on diverse animals such as toads, lizards, and birds, and inhabits a number of habitats including savannas, woodlands, grasslands, and semidesert habitats. Though its bite may be fatal to human beings, immediate injection of antivenin can inhibit the action of the venom.
The Egyptian cobra employs its hollow, fixed front fangs to inject venom when it bites. In contrast to other snakes, its bite is comparatively slow, but the venom is strong enough to knock its prey out soon enough. In spite of its venomous attack, the bite of the Egyptian cobra is not necessarily always deadly, and with prompt medical care, the threat can be averted.

The Egyptian cobra is oviparous, i.e., it gives birth to eggs. Mating is usually done in the spring, and a female will typically lay 8 to 30 eggs per clutch. The eggs incubate before hatching, with the baby snakes being completely independent at birth. Although their venomous fangs are operational soon after hatching, the baby cobras are still fragile and need to develop before they can be effective predators.

The Egyptian cobra is a carnivorous snake. Its main diet is toads, but it also hunts and eats other animals, such as small mammals, birds, eggs, lizards, and even other snakes. The varied diet ensures the cobra's survival in various habitats, demonstrating its versatility as a predator.

The Egyptian cobra is threatened by a number of issues that affect its numbers. These are:

Egyptian cobras are important for keeping the environment in balance. As predators, they regulate the numbers of other prey animals, such as rodents like rats and mice. These rodents are typically pests of crops, so having the cobra around can keep crops healthy and minimize the use of chemical pest control. Through this, the Egyptian cobra helps keep its ecosystem healthy by regulating the number of smaller animals and avoiding overgrazing or crop destruction.
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