Specimen Showcase | Social Distancing with the Chinese Cobra
- Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum
- Mar 10
- 2 min read
Today our species on focus is as much feared than it is respected. The Chinese Cobraš is one of the species that features in the set of cards that you can enjoy when you visit the HKBM (and quite a popular one!)
The Chinese Cobra belongs to the genus šš¢š«š¢ which includes a total of 19 species. Originating from Africa, where 8 species are still encountered, individuals of this genus later dispersed into Asia about 9 million years ago where it diversified. Nowadays, 11 Asian species of Naja are found from Iran and Turkmenistan to East China and Indonesia.
The Chinese Cobra, šš¢š«š¢ š¢šµš³š¢ Cantor 1842, while having a more modest distribution, spans from southern Anhui and central Zhejiang to Taiwan to northern Vietnam and Laos. In many of these regions, it used to be relatively abundant, and was considered as one of the most common snake thanks to its plasticity in using a wide range of habitats from the lowland plains to the low mountains. In the past decades, however, overhunting, urban and agricultural expansions and related problems such as pollution have caused a serious decline in its populations across its range, to the point that the species is now considered as vulnerable by #IUCN š.
Just like its habitat use, the Chinese Cobra is not picky when it comes to food. Indeed, its diet includes frogs, birds, small mammals like rodents, lizards, fishes (e.g. eels or loaches), and some other snakes which are hunted during both day and early night hours. With such a diverse diet, adults usually reach a size comprises between 1.2 to 1.5 m, but some exceptional specimens can measure as much as 2 m.
The reproductive season of the Chinese Cobra spans from late June to early August, during which females lay clutch of eggs which numbers can vary from 5 to 28! If the temperature during incubation is ideal, meaning between 26 to 30Ā° C, then most young snakes will hatch and start looking for small preys like frogs.
The venom of the Chinese Cobra contains neurotoxins and cardiotoxins which cause damage to the nerve tissues and heart muscle disorder respectively. Contrary to several of other related Naja species, the Chinese Cobra is considered a non-spitting species, but this astonishing behaviour has nonetheless been observed rarely in some individuals, with the venom sprayed as far as to 2 metersšÆ! So if you observe these beautiful creatures, make sure to keep your distance with them. If you are really anxious to come with a close encounter with a Chinese Cobra, one of your best chance may be with one of our specimens at the HKBM. No limitations herešāāļø!
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