The monocled cobra, also called the Indian spitting cobra or monocellate cobra, is a highly venomous snake species. In 1831, French naturalist and herpetologist René Lesson proposed the name Naja kaouthia. Their genus name ‘naja‘ derives from the Latinized Sanskrit word nāgá meaning “snake”. And the species epithet ‘kaouthia‘ derives from the Bengali word “keute”, the Bengali term for monocled cobra.
Once considered a subspecies of the spectacled cobra, it was later distinguished as a separate species.
Scientific Classifications
- Suborder:Serpentes
- Family:Elapidae
- Genus:Naja
- Species:N.kaouthia
Conservation Status
Morphs
The known morphs of the monocled cobra are:
- Albino
- Granite
- Melanistic
- Orange pastel
- Red-eyed leucistic
Description
Size
The average length of a monocled cobra is 53-60 inches(4.4 to 5 ft), with a 9.1 inches (23 cm) tail; however, their total size can reach up to 90 inches (7.5 ft).
Color and Appearance
These cobras have an O-shaped mark, also called a monocellate pattern, on the dorsal surface of the hoods, and they have two black spots on their throats. The body color of these snakes varies from black, brown, gray, olive, yellow, and any combination of them. They have pale sand-colored bellies and may or may not possess strongly defined cross bands along their bodies. The juveniles generally have dark coloration; however, it gradually fades to a pale shade as they grow older.
There are 25-31 scales on their neck, 19-21 on the body, and 15 or 17 on the frontal vent. The number of ventral scales is 164-197, and subcaudal scales are up to 43-58. Females have 46-59 subcaudal scales and 178-197 ventral scales; males have 48-61 subcaudal scales and 170-192 ventral scales. They have multiple cuneate scales on each side, and the short frontal scale is square-shaped.
They also possess a pair of fixed fangs in the front that have moderate adaptation to spit venom. The measurement of the largest recorded fang in this species was 0.266 inches (6.78 mm).
Are they Dangerous
This cobra is an aggressive and highly venomous species which makes them very dangerous. Their venom has an LD50 value of 0.148 mg/kg and is among the world’s fastest-acting venoms; however, its potency depends on where they live. For example, toxicities between monocled cobras living in Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam differ. The Malaysian population has a high amount of neurotoxins than the specimens of Thai and Vietnam, with an LD50 value of 0.90-1.11 µg/g. While the median lethal dose in the Thailand specimen is 0.18-0.22 µg/g, and in Vietnamese specimens, it is 0.90-1.00 µg/g. The fatality rate of monocled cobra envenomation is highest in Thailand.
The approximate venom yield per bite is 263 mg dry weight. The postsynaptic neurotoxin α-cobratoxin is one of the toxins found majorly in their venom. It causes interference in nerve transmission leading to necrosis, paralysis, and even cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. Other known toxins in monocled cobra’s venom are cardiotoxins and myotoxins. Once bitten, the symptoms start showing almost immediately; this includes drowsiness, muscle problems, numbness, pain, and even paralysis.
Still, envenomation does not always occur, even if fang marks are present.
Monocled Cobra At a Glance
Distribution
Native to Southeast Asia, their distribution ranges across India, particularly in West Bengal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Habitat
Habitats that these snakes prefer are areas with water, for example, paddy fields, swamps, and mangroves, where they show semi-aquatic behavior and hide in rodent burrows. However, they also live in forests, grasslands, and shrublands, sometimes sheltering in tree hollows.
Attracted by rodents, monocled cobras also sometimes enter suburban and urban areas, which include human settlements like cities. They generally live at a 3,300 ft altitude.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of a monocled cobra is 13-20 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity.
Predators
Due to being an extremely poisonous and formidable predator, these snakes have very few enemies, which include large birds of prey, namely the crested serpent eagle, different species of mongoose, and the king cobra.
Even though they would rather escape if disturbed, when cornered or threatened, these cobras rise up and spread their hoods by expanding the elongated ribs in their necks. They then hiss loudly as a warning sign and are quick to inflict venomous bites. Several monocled cobra specimens can spit venom at their target and readily do so. Due to this phenomenon, they are sometimes called ‘Indian spitting cobras’.
Diet
Their diet primarily consists of fish, frogs, lizards, rodents, toads, and smaller snakes. Juveniles mostly consume amphibians.
These are crepuscular creatures, mostly hunting during dusk. After locating their prey, these formidable predators will quickly strike it, injecting their toxic venom to paralyze it, and then they swallow it whole.
Reproduction
The breeding season starts in January and lasts through March. After two months of gestation, the female lays a clutch of 16-33 eggs and burrows them in the ground coiling around it. Eggs start hatching from April to June, after 55-73 days of incubation; hatchlings emerge measuring 8-12 inches, with a functional venom gland and a yolk sac in their stomach. This yolk sac nourishes them for the first two weeks. They begin hunting around this time.
Similar Species
The monocled and Indian cobras can cause confusion due to their similar appearance. However, they are easily distinguishable from one another by their hood mark. Indian cobras have a U-shaped hood pattern, whereas the monocled cobras’ hood mark is O-shaped.
The Chinese and the monocled cobras can appear similar, but through subcaudal and ventral scale counts, these cobras are easily distinguishable.
King Cobra
The king cobra does not possess the monocellate pattern on their hood and is larger than the monocled cobra.
Care Sheet
Size of the Enclosure: At least a 40-gallon terrarium is needed for a single monocled cobra. The enclosure size should be 9 ft X 1.6 ft, providing them enough space to aid their terrestrial nature and climbing habit.
Substrate: Cypress mulch or orchid bark is suitable since it helps regulate the humidity level by holding onto water and can absorb waste. Substrates that have a rough texture should be avoided.
Humidity: The enclosure’s humidity needs around 50%–60%.
Temperature: In two-thirds of the tank, the ambient temperature should be 74°F, and the basking spot should be around 82°F.
Lighting: No special UVB lights are needed as long as they receive natural daylight for at least eight hours.
Feeding: One should feed juveniles two pinkie mice and adults a single large mouse or a mammal that is equivalent in size. Both should be fed at an interval of one week.
Source
bangkokherps.files.wordpress.com, everythingreptiles.com, researchgate.net, images.ctfassets.net, flickr.com, a-z-animals.com
