Comments on: Giant Spitting Cobra Discovered

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:24:03 +0000

An interesting thing about the evolution of the spitting cobra is that there is one line of thinking that says these cobras developed the ability and adaptation to “spit” in order to prevent being trampled on by larger animals. If, say, an antelope was about to unintentionally squash one, it is a little late to deliver a fatal bite onto the animal as it stamps down a possibly fatal or disabling blow. I suppose the same would hold true for a larger, non prey animal about to attack. The theory has it that the spitting is intended to deter such animals from getting too close to begin with and seeing as these cobras can project the venom a considerable distance, this seems very plausible. It is very much the same principle as the “rattle” of the rattlesnake. To me, it is fascinating how animals such as this have adapted to the demands and rigors of the their habitat.

By: Alligator

Alligator — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:20:30 +0000

Doberman vs. Cobra – well cobras are actually slow striking snakes and typically they raise to strike – that’s why a mongoose will beat a cobra, speed. Same with the dog.

With a viper the dog’s chances drop to 50-50 or less, unless he’s really fast. With the faster more aggressive elapids like the mambas, or an Aussie brown snake, I’d say all good dogs go to heaven.

Amazing that this spitting cobra was literally “in spitting distance” of science all this time and yet it still remained ‘unknown’ until now. The bigger an animal is the more problematic it becomes for it to exist without being known to science, yet, this snake is normally something that is hard to overlook. That and the herpetofauna of Kenya has been rather well known and studied the past 100 years, owing to its status as a British colony for much of that time.

By: DARHOP

DARHOP — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:56:22 +0000

Very Kool. I love snakes. But as said above. They should be treated with respect. Not handled like some handle them. Snake worshippers are nutts if you ask me. Anybody that will crawl into a sleeping bag or a bathtub, and fill it with deadly snakes, is not playing with a full deck if you ask me. And after these shows, what happens to the snakes ? Are they set free? No, they are butchered. Made into wallets and boots. Pretty sad I think.

By: cryptidsrus

cryptidsrus — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:08:39 +0000

I have a quote also:

“Crikey!!!”

My favorite spitting cobra “moment” was Irwin’s Africa journey. He spent an entire episode mostly on spitting cobras. Had to wear shades constantly. Even WITH the shades, some of the venom still got to him. Great episode, great man.

Awesome find. Iw ould not wish one of those on my worst enemy.

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:23:36 +0000

Funny quote, Dragonheart. “Asps (or cobras in this case), very dangerous. You first”. I agree, these new species articles are wonderful.

By: Dragonheart

Dragonheart — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:33:33 +0000

“Snakes… why did it have to be snakes?”
Interesting article Loren, thanks for sharing with us.

By: graybear

graybear — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:47:56 +0000

Mystery_man states that “any poisonous snake like this should be treated with proper respect and given its distance”. I agree completely; any animal deserves the respect and consideration we should offer to all of them, newly recognized or not, sweet and cuddly or not. So how long does anyone think it will be before some idiot lets one loose in Florida (probably a pregnant female)? “Never underestimate the power of human stupidity,” Robert A. Heinlein.

By: Bob Michaels

Bob Michaels — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 17:12:46 +0000

Any Discovery of this magnitude is indeed welcome. i for one do not care for spitting Cobras, stay far away but let them live.

By: DWA

DWA — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:42:33 +0000

Hear hear!

And here’s another illustration of “if you’re looking, you find…but only if you’re looking.”

People will follow up on tag-end evidence when they EXPECT to find Something Different. The example of new peccary and manatee and clouded leopard species illustrates this well; speciation went unrecognized for a long time, despite the probability that many people were seeing these different animals. They thought, hmmmm, that one’s big, or that one’s different, but they dismissed the differences because of the similarities. Sooner or later, though, someone LOOKED into it. EXPECTING to find something really different.

There’s tons of tag-end evidence for Cryptids Not to be Named Here. But we haven’t gotten to the point where someone goes, that IS different, and I EXPECT to find it when I LOOK for it.

Science tends to go for safe bets.

By: Richard888

Richard888 — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 09:19:29 +0000

I don’t blame anyone for fearing cobras. However, I saw a Doberman vs Cobra clip on Fox and the Doberman won.