Indochinese spitting cobra

The Indochinese spitting cobra, also referred to as the Thai spitting cobra, Siamese spitting cobra, or black-and-white spitting cobra, is a captivating species of spitting cobra located throughout Southeast Asia. This medium-sized serpent exhibits a range of colors, from grey to brown to black, often accented with white spots or stripes. Typically, these snakes reach lengths of about 0.9 to 1.2 meters, though some exceptional individuals can grow up to 1.6 meters. It is crucial not to confuse this species with the monocled cobra, despite their overlapping habitats and similar appearances.

The Indochinese spitting cobra inhabits countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos, thriving in various environments, including lowlands, hills, plains, woodlands, and jungles. These snakes are predominantly nocturnal and exhibit different behaviors based on the time of day. Their diet consists of rodents, toads, and even other snakes.

In terms of reproduction, the Indochinese spitting cobra is an oviparous species, meaning that females lay eggs—usually between 13 and 19 at a time. The venom of this cobra is a potent concoction of postsynaptic neurotoxins and cytotoxins, which can be lethal to humans. A bite from this cobra can cause severe pain, swelling, and tissue damage around the site of the wound. If the venom enters the eyes, it can result in immediate and intense pain, with the potential to cause temporary or permanent blindness.

Regarding classification, this species was once misidentified as other types of cobras. However, thorough studies in the 1990s, incorporating both morphological and molecular analyses, established it as a distinct species.