Rikki-Tikki-TaviRikki-Tikki-Tavi

By Rudyard KiplingBy Rudyard Kipling

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How the Cobra Got its Name

• The king’s Latin name (Ophiophagus hannah) refers to its favorite meal— ophiophagus means snake-eater.

• Its culinary preferences probably gave the king cobra its English name. King cobras prefer nonvenomous snakes like the rat snake, but they also dine on venomous Indian cobras, kraits, and even small king cobras, thus earning the ignoble title, ‘cannibal.’

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/kingcobra/index-n.html

Species Facts

• Size/Life Span:The King Cobra can usually be found between 3.7m (12 ft.) and 5.5m (18 ft.). 5.5m has been the longest recorded.

• http://www.rochedalss.qld.edu.au/ animalprojects/cobra.htm

• Hunting and Diet: The King Cobra is a carnivore (meat-eater). King Cobras are venomous; one bite can paralyze and kill their prey within minutes. The victim dies from suffocation, as the lungs and heart stop.

• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/ subjects/reptiles/snakes/Kingcobra. shtml

King Cobras

• When disturbed or angry, the cobra assumes a threatening position, raising the front part of its body while expanding a hood near its head. The snake creates its hood by expanding its movable neck ribs, which stretches out the loose skin around its neck.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/kingcobra/index-n.html

Image from “King Cobra,” National Geographic EXPLORER

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/reptiles/ snakes/Kingcobra.shtml

Traits of a Cobra

Venom• It has a head as big as a man’s hand and can stand tall

enough to look you straight in the eye. Its venom can stun your nervous system and stop your breathing.

• Drop for drop, a king cobra’s venom is actually less lethal than a common cobra’s. The king more than makes up for it by delivering more venom per bite—as much as .2 fluid ounces (7 milliliters) of liquid. That’s enough to kill an elephant, or 20 people.

• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/kingcobra/index-n.html

Cultural beliefs & Myths

• Several of India’s major religions pay tribute to the king and smaller common cobras in their stories.

• In Hinduism, cobras are considered manifestations of Shiva, the god of destruction and regeneration.

• A Buddhist story describes how a massive cobra (probably king) spread its hood over the Buddha to protect him from the sun while he meditated. Cobra images guard the entrances of many Buddhist and Hindu temples.

• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/kingcobra/index-n.html

Cultural Beliefs and Myths

• King cobras have also been worshipped as sun deities with power over rain, thunder, and fertility.

• On the annual lunar holiday of Nag Panchami, Hindus refrain from plowing and field work out of respect for cobras.

• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/kingcobra/index-n.html

Images from “King Cobra,” National Geographic EXPLORER

Cobra Habitat• One of the king cobra’s natural habitats is the cool

undergrowth of rain forests. It often stays near streams, where the temperature and humidity are relatively constant.

• It spends almost a fourth of its time up in trees or bushes, but also likes plains and mangrove swamps.

• As deforestation causes the king’s habitat to shrink, it can find itself in enemy territory—the human realm of tea estates and villages.

• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/kingcobra/index-n.html

http://www.awf.org/wildlives/69

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/mongoose/Mongooseprintout.shtml

Traits of a Mongoose

Mongoose in the Environment

• Diet-CarnivoreWild: beetles, crabs, earthworms, fallen fruit, grasshoppers, ground birds & their eggs, millipedes, reptile eggs, rodents, scorpions, slugs, snails, snakes & termitesZoo: apples, carnivore diet, high protein dog chow

• habitat/range-grasslands, brush lands, woodlands, rocky country; Gambia to NE Ethiopia and south to South Africa

• Status-widespread currently not in danger

http://www.oregonzoo.com/Cards/Rainforest/mongoose.banded.htm

Banded Mongoose

http://www.oregonzoo.com/Cards/Rainforest/mongoose.banded.htm

Mongoose: Thieves

• Most coup attempts occur against a vulnerable young royal: Wild boar and mongoose are notorious thieves of king cobra eggs.

• Hatchling cobras are susceptible to army ants, giant centipedes, civet cats, and more mongooses.

• http://www.oregonzoo.com/Cards/Rainforest/mongoose.banded.htm

Image from “King Cobra,” National Geographic EXPLORER

Mongoose Fighting a Mongoose Fighting a CobraCobra

The Indian mongoose is well known for its The Indian mongoose is well known for its aggressive hunting behavior. It eats rodents aggressive hunting behavior. It eats rodents and snakes and will even attack highly and snakes and will even attack highly venomous snakes, such as this cobra. venomous snakes, such as this cobra.

The mongoose has been introduced to The mongoose has been introduced to other areas to control rodent and snake other areas to control rodent and snake populations, but its predatory habits often populations, but its predatory habits often disrupt the ecosystems into which it is disrupt the ecosystems into which it is introduced. introduced.

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