National Reptile: The king Cobra

 

NATIONAL  SYMBOLS: INDIA

National Reptile: The king Cobra

SARASIJ MAJUMDER

 

• 1.      National Flower: The lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is India's national flower. It is a sacred flower that has been an auspicious symbol of Indian culture since ancient times. 
• 2.      National Pledge:-Oath of Allegiance.
• 3.      National Currency:- ₹ Rupee.
• 4.      National Bird:  The peacock is India's national bird. 
• 5.      National Fruit: The mango (Mangifera indica) is India's national fruit. 
• 6.      National Animal: The Royal Bengal  Tiger (Panthera tigris) is India's national animal. The tiger's strength, agility, and grace makes it a fitting symbol for India. 
• 7.      National Heritage Animal:--Indian Elephant.
• 8.      National Anthem: "Jana Gana Mana",  Lyrics, and composition by ‘GURUDEV’.
• 9.      National Song: "Vande Mataram". Lyrics by Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Composition: ‘GURUDEV’.
• 10.  National Flag is a horizontal tricolour of saffron, white, and India green. 
• 11.  National River:-The Ganges river is considered India's national river and has spiritual significance. 
• 12.  National Emblem Of India :  Lion Capital of Ashoka, an adaptation of an ancient sculpture that dates back to 280 BC. The emblem is used by the union government, many state governments, and some other government agencies.
• 13.  National Tree: Indian Banyan Tree.
• 14.  National Calendar: SAKA.
• 15.  National Vegetable: PUMPKIN.
• 16.  National Game: Hockey.
• 17.  National Aquatic Animal:-- Dolphin of River Ganges. Does everybody knows??
• 18.  National Reptile: The king Cobra is India's national reptile. This may not be known to many people. 

Today, I will discuss about KING COBRA. Mythology, and misconception are also attached to it.

The king cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah) is a highly venomous snake endemic to Asia. The sole member of the genus Ophiophagus, it is not taxonomically a true cobra, despite its common name and some resemblance. With an average length of 3.6 m (12 ft) and a record length of 5.85 m (19.2 ft), it is the world's longest highly venomous snake.

It is normally dark, deep  greyish in colour, with  biggest  HOOD, and it closely resembles Cobra.

The king cobra has an eminent position in the mythology and folklore of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar. It is also called ‘NAGA’ and found at the neck of ‘Lord Shiva’. Some tribal people worship this particular species of  Snake as their 'GOD'.

The king cobra is an apex predator and dominant over all other snakes except large  Pythons.  It lives mainly on Snakes, Lizards,  Rats, all types of Frogs, Rabbits, Birds etc. But, its favourite food is Snakes.

They can live about 20 years in the wild.

It is not yet ‘endangered, but Vulnerable’ species.

Once I saw it to catch, and eat fish, from the bank of large waterbody, which was part of our erstwhile very big  farmhouse, where we stayed,  at DUM DUM, sold long back, after I graduated. I lived, and spent  my childhood there. I enjoyed every minute of my  living there. But—‘..ES IST SO LANGE, HERR..’

King Cobra can climb trees, mainly to hunt Bird, Birds’ eggs, and Birdlings..

It is considered diurnal,  because, though  it hunts mostly during the day, but has also been seen preying at night, albeit, rarely. Must be very Hungry then!

It has best eyesight amongst Snakes—can identify moving objects almost up to 100 meters.

The hiss of the king cobra is  much of lower pitch than many other snakes and many people thus identify  its call to a "growl" rather than a hiss.  Closer to 650 Hz.

It’s natural habitat is thick bush close to waterbody.

It is otherwise of gentle nature—nonaggressive, mostly slinks off when disturbed . But, it becomes very ferocious, when it protects it’s eggs, or if seriously  threatened. And, even then—near 50% strikes are BLANK. But, if it injects VENOM,  amount is 6+ c.c.—that is a very  large quantity, extremely neurotoxic, and lethal. The person will die in about 30 minutes time. Needs antivenom very soon.

In USA, two types of Neurological Drugs are made from its poison. One is to relieve pain in severe Arthritis. Since 1930s, it’s venom has been used to treat various diseases like asthma, polio, multiple sclerosis, rheumatism, severe pain and trigeminal neuralgia. Among antimicrobial components that have been isolated from snake venom are (i) L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO), and (ii) phospholipase A2 (PLA2).

I spent sometime in studying 'HARPETOLOGY', and visited several times a 'SNAKE FARM' , close to Calcutta,  developed, and established by a friend of mine, while I worked in DSP. He used to rent Snakes for 'Shooting', and sold snake venoms to one Pharmaceutical Company. And I have seen King Cobra couple of times. 

And I agree that whoever selected this Serpent as National Reptile, selected 'THE BEST' in the specieses.It is really 'KING' amongst serpents.

REFERENCES:-

1. 1.0  Mehrtens, J. (1987). "King Cobra, Hamadryad (Ophiophagus hannah)". Living Snakes of the World. New York: Sterling. 
2. Coborn, J. (1991). The Atlas of Snakes of the World. TFH Publications. 

IMAGES:-

National Symbol—from Google.

KING COBRA:  By Michael Allen Smith from Seattle, USA - 12 - The Mystical King Cobra and Coffee Forests, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25482569