SPITTING COBRA Meaning and
Definition
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A spitting cobra is a type of venomous snake belonging to the Elapidae family, known for its unique defensive behavior of ejecting venom from specialized glands located within its fangs. The term "spitting cobra" is specifically used to describe several species within the genus Naja, including the black-necked spitting cobra, red spitting cobra, Mozambique spitting cobra, and others.
These cobras are primarily found in parts of Africa and Asia, typically inhabiting grasslands, savannas, and forested regions. They possess distinctive characteristics such as an elongated body, often measuring around 1 to 2 meters in length, a broad head, and large, fixed fangs at the front of their jaws.
What differentiates spitting cobras from other venomous snakes is their ability to shoot venom accurately at a target from a considerable distance, typically up to several meters. When threatened or agitated, they can forcefully expel their venom by contracting their specialized muscles around the venom glands, propelling the venom towards the perceived threat's eyes. This venom contains a combination of toxins, primarily designed to incapacitate and cause intense irritation to the eyes, leading to temporary or permanent blindness if not treated promptly.
The spitting cobra's skillful spitting technique is an evolutionary adaptation aimed at defending itself from potential predators or threats without resorting to direct physical contact. Due to their unique defensive behavior, spitting cobras are considered dangerous and potentially harmful to both humans and other animals. Proper caution should always be exercised when encountering these venomous serpents to avoid being struck by their venomous spray.
Common Misspellings for SPITTING COBRA
- apitting cobra
- zpitting cobra
- xpitting cobra
- dpitting cobra
- epitting cobra
- wpitting cobra
- soitting cobra
- slitting cobra
- s-itting cobra
- s0itting cobra
- sputting cobra
- spjtting cobra
- spktting cobra
- spotting cobra
- sp9tting cobra
- sp8tting cobra
- spirting cobra
- spifting cobra
- spigting cobra
Etymology of SPITTING COBRA
The term "spitting cobra" is a compound noun composed of two words: "spitting" and "cobra".
The word "spitting" is derived from the verb "to spit", which can mean forcefully expelling saliva or any other liquid substance from the mouth. The action of spitting is often associated with projecting or spraying the liquid over a certain distance. In the case of spitting cobras, they possess the ability to project their venom accurately and forcefully towards a potential threat.
The word "cobra" refers to a venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae, specifically from the genus Naja. The term originated from the Portuguese word "cobra de capelo", which means "hooded snake". The Portuguese likely borrowed the word from the Latin "colubra", which generally refers to any snake.
Similar spelling words for SPITTING COBRA
