Greg Sparkman, age 10, of Niagara Falls, Ont.,.Canada, for his question:
DOES THE FEMALE COBRA HAVE A HOOD?
It takes an expert to tell a male from a female cobra. And to be on the safe side, the expert may wait until the mating season. Then the male and female cobra both spread their hoods, rear up and perform a graceful dance.
The deadly cobras are handsome snakes, at home in many parts of Africa and Asia. There are several species, ranging from 5 to 10 feet long. They come in various colors, but in all species the males and females have wide scaly hoods, marked with a design that often looks like a pair of spectacles.
The famous cobra hood is formed from a flap of scaly skin on each side of the neck. It is stiffened by extensions of long, movable ribs that work somewhat like ribs of an umbrella. When the critter is relaxed or dozing to digest a big dinner, the two halves of his hood are folded down to his sides
When this deadly snake is scared or excited, he or she rears up. The umbrella ribs spread out to the sides, and the threatening hood expands. At this point, nobody in cobra country stays around to wonder whether the menacing snake is a male or a female. For the cobra, male or female, is all set to strike.
The cobra's teeth are rather short, and he tends to chew the wound as his deadly venom is injected deep into the flesh. In India, where cobras are common, it is estimated that 10,000 persons perish from these venomous bites every year. The poison attacks the nervous system, and the victim may perish in 15 minutes.
Several large and small cobras live in Africa, in regions north and south of the Sahara Desert. There, also, they claim many human victims, especially children and others who go around barefoot and wear light clothing. Sometimes a cobra strikes from the bushes without provocation. Certainly these snakes are not on our list of desirable neighbors, though they do keep down the ratty rodent populations.
The cobra's mortal enemy is the daredevil mongoose. This small furry mammal is quicker than quick. He darts to and fro, tempting the snake to strike again and again. At last the snake becomes weary. Then the triumphant mongoose pounces on the cobra's hood and gives him a fatal bite in the back of the neck.